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puppyparkmoving · 8 months

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☢3: Relaxing - a safeshiptember fic☢

Characters: Brandy and Benny Word count: 1,288 Description: Another pitifully short fic to follow the last one where they go home and Benny makes her some food. cuz being cooked for is relaxing and the grandest expression of love. I made the falloutified recipes and researched crops in arizona and everything cuz im nuts.

Trumpets were the most beautiful sound in jazz. At least in Brandy's opinion. And she considered her tastes refined. Not her taste in men. But her taste in just about everything else. The brass family of instruments were like a fine citrus. The tang and pleasantness. The smooth music playing over Benny's stereo was so good she could almost smell it. She tilted her nose up slightly. She really did smell it. Letting her stare linger over to the kitchen in their room she looked over Benny. Out of his suit and down to casual wear. Just like when they first met. A relaxed and vulnerable appearance he wouldn't show many. His strong time-weathered hands were squeezing an orange into a pitcher. It was already filled with a red liquid and the mix of smells was pungent in a flattering way.

"What's that?" She called from where she laid on the sofa.

"An orange." He called back with a little smirk.

"Shut up, funny man" She rolled her eyes and sat up a bit "I meant the drink you're making."

"I know. Its cranberry juice." He set the reduced orange half aside and sucked some of the juice off his palm before answering "Its cranberry juice."

"Cranberry? Whats that?" She sat up further and bunched up her robe a bit as she watched his mouth entranced. She loved it when he made food. It was alluring to see his passion.

"Its like a tart berry. I know a guy from Nevada who grows 'em special. Did him a favor recently. Didn't ask for nothing in return. But he returned anyways." He was never humble when he bragged. But neither was she. So she didn't mind.

"Wow. Really? Are they like blueberries like they got at the Ultra Luxe?" She inquired and stood up stretching.

"Baby, the Ultra Luxe ain't got nothing on anything I'm cookin' with." He chuckled and rested back on his palms on the counter watching her approach intently.

"I'm serious, Benny. What are they like? I wanna know." She stopped in front of him and put her hands on her hips.

"Why don't you try some while I start on the steaks?" He raised a brow at her.

"Steaks? You're cooking so fancy for little ol' me." She replaced her hands from her hips onto his.

"Nothing but the best for you, baby." He kissed the top of her head.

She hummed at the affection and backed off of him so he could get back to cooking. She took the pitcher and walked it to where they ate. The places were already set. He saw to that before he started. Pouring a glass of the juice she inhaled deeply to take in the foreign and sweet scent. She could tell just by smelling it he added lots of sugar just like she preferred. Which made her smile small. Benny was always doing little things he knew she liked. Twirling the glass and taking in more of the scent she looked over to him again. The sound of sizzling sounded from the pan he was working with. Must be the steaks. She didn't think it could smell better than the juice in her hand. But it did now. It was a vaguely familiar smell she couldn't put her finger on.

"That smells great." She complimented and stayed where she stood watching him.

"Yeah? Not as great as you look. Tried the cranberry juice yet?" He called as he paid careful attention to his cooking.

"No. I was just trying to figure out what's making it smell so good out there." She lifted the juice and smelled it again.

"I'm makin' it smell good." He quipped and flipped the meats one by one.

"Smartass." She muttered and shook her head with a smirk before tasting the juice at last and chiming louder "Oh my gosh. Benny this is great. How'd you make it?"

"The juice I came up with off the top of my head. Just some orange, cranberry, lemon, and sugar." He shrugged a bit "Was gonna play with it some more but if you like it that much I'll just jot it down."

"Jot it down where?" She asked walked back toward the kitchen leaning on the door frame.

"On a little card. In my recipe box." He gestured to the open box full of cards on the counter.

"Oh. Is that what these are? I thought they were work notes all this time." She looked down at them curiously.

"Nah. I already have a bunch. But when we started goin' steady I started writing down more. The ones you liked." He said like it was nothing and not a sentiment that gave Brandy butterflies.

There were two sat out on the counter already. One looked older than the other. More loved too judging from the wear around the corners. Must've been one from before her. It read:

12 oz. Nuka-Cola ⅓ c. olive oil 2 rib eye brahmin steaks 1 large sweet onion, cut into thick slices 2 tsp. garlic Salt and pepper to taste

Nuka-Cola. That's what the familiar smell was. It said they were marinated in it. It sounded lovely. And it was more lovely he put that much effort into a meal with her. Prepping beforehand. Nevermind how cocky and annoying it was he assumed he'd be having her company. She wouldnt begin to wonder if he had a business meeting at all and was just looking for her all day. Would that being true be more annoying or more lovely? She didnt really know. But she did know how good the juice tasted as she moved on to reading the next one.

4 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes ¼ c. olive oil ¼ cup honey 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon Salt and pepper to taste

The little sweet potato number. She remembered this one. He made it on their first date. The day they got together. All those years ago. After way too long of the palpable sexual tension and clumsy flirting between them. He had decided they should get serious. Think about settling down. That was before Mr. House started treating him like an heir. Which is what drove them apart for the most part. Boy was it messy too. The same month as their anniversary. September, she realized, which was also this month. She looked up at Benny now with a growing suspicion.

"Benny?" She began.

"What is it, baby?" He didn't look over at her.

"What day is it?" She set the glass down next to the recipe box.

"Ha. I uh... I dunno. Why?" He sounded like he was sweating the question.

"I was just thinking about when we got together. You remember that?" She crossed her arms looking over his face which freckled red as she pried.

"Oh yeah. Is that today? I completely forgot. You know I cant keep track of anything." He lied through his teeth, but knew she knew.

She didn't press on. She had her answer. 10% annoying. 90% lovely. Wrapping her arms around him from behind he made a soft noise at feeling her warm face nuzzle into his shoulder. As she watched him cook she made him sway back and forth to the jazz carried gently to them from the living room. Eventually he plated the steaks and turned to her. Taking her hands he held her close and did a little two-step with her and whispered her sweet nothings as they waited for the potatoes to finish roasting. She wouldn't say it out loud. Especially to Benny, hid head would fill with hot air. But maybe her taste in men was refined after all.

#safeship #safeshipping #safeshiptember #safeshiptember2023 #si: brandy #🔳

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use-your-telescope · 1 year

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WIP Wednesday - When Everything's Made to be Broken: Snippet #5

Alright Ladies, Gents, and balls of anxiety, I'm back after a hectic few weeks with another snippet!

We're officially out of chronological order, so this goes between snippets 1 and 2; after the briefing, but before Theo actually joined the Avengers. This is also a part of Chapter 3: I'm Still Not Sure What I Stand For.

Tag list: @iamlokisgloriouspurpose @thedistractedagglomeration @lokisgoodgirl @simplyholl @mochie85 @coldnique @lokixryss @gigglingtigger @cheekyscamp @loopsisloops @mischief2sarawr @crzyplantladyvibes @buttercupcookies-blog @vickie5446

Snippet #5: I'm Still Not Sure What I Stand For

“Hi, we’re Your Friendly Neighborhood Bar Band, and we’re here to play some music tonight.”

With the warmth from the stage lights washing over her, Theo smiled at the cheers that came from Jack’s introduction and started plunking out the opening notes of their first song.

She started playing with the group shortly after accepting her position as an attending at New York Presbyterian, having been introduced by a colleague whose brother happened to be their drummer. That was a few years before, and in that time the group had grown to add a couple other members and expand the music styles to cover almost anything and everything.

For Theo, it was as much an opportunity to keep herself learning and practicing new instruments as anything else; after all, music was one of the few things in the world that brought her any sort of solace, as it was something her parents both placed a great value in. She didn’t run the show - they all rotated out who fronted certain songs, and she was not needed to provide on-stage banter - but she did switch instruments most often, as she was the only one who had taken the initiative to learn all of the one-off instruments for the times when a song had a saxophone or a trumpet and it just didn’t sound right without that specific instrument.

It was the last show she would play before news broke of the newest addition to the Avengers; knowing full-well that meant she would need to likely step back from pre-planned appearances with the group, she did her best to soak up each and every moment of the evening in hopes of tucking it away for a rainy day in the future. The stupid jokes that Jack told the crowd, Kelsie moving around so much that she inevitably crashed into Theo mid-song, the drunk guy in the audience who shouted at them to play Wonderwall…

Except for the crowd of familiar faces in the back, attempting to blend in but doing the opposite.

She should have known they’d find their way there.

After pulling the stunt at their briefing, it was only a matter of time before they sought her out for some observation of their own. Catching the entire team off-guard was incredibly satisfying and certainly got under their skin… which was exactly the point. If they thought she was predictable and stable, they’d trust her and want her to stay. And with the individual and collective egos in that room, she needed to knock them all down a peg or two. Pulling the rug out from under the entire team was an effective reminder that they weren’t as prepared as they thought they were.

And boy, did they need that reminder.

She’d seen the videos of their attempts at taking on shadow beasts, and if her initial suspicions were correct about the source of the pests, the Avengers certainly had no idea what they were in for.

But enough about the Avengers - she had a show to play and was about to make the most of it.

“Theo Amaris on the… well shit, she plays pretty much everything at one point or another. Piano, guitar, vocals, violin, cello, sax, trumpet— not only can she play pretty much every instrument and make it look easy, but she’s got two Fucking Grammy nominations for it.”

Theo’s cheeks burned.

The nominations weren’t for writing music - a friend of a friend was working at a recording studio and they needed someone to come in and help with recording a bunch of parts for a major recording musician. Theo was a broke med student in the middle of her residency at the time and well, the gig paid well. All she had to do was show up, play the instruments, sign an NDA, and she got more than her fair share of pay. Of course, now that the album was out and her name was in the song credits the NDA no longer applied, but at the time she wondered if they paycheck was more to keep quiet about it and less about recording the music.

The album ended up getting two grammy nominations - album of the year and country album of the year.

“I didn’t write the songs, so I don’t know if it’s fair to say the nominations are mine… I was recruited to play a few instrumental parts and I was a broke med student who needed money!” Theo interjected, earning laughter and cheers from the crowd. “I didn’t even know who the recordings were for until a week before the album came out.”

“Theo what, like it’s hard? Amaris here, making us all look bad as she casually racks up grammy nominations while in motherfucking med school. Actually, hey look, our next song is from the album you got the nominations for!” Jack replied, earning a louder round of screams from the crowd.

Anyone who had been to a show of theirs probably knew what was coming, since Jack liked to point it out every single time they played - but tonight, Theo found herself wishing he hadn’t revealed that detail… after all, now she had a bunch of superheroes watching who would definitely ask questions about that endeavor.

“Yeah, yeah… okay, let’s get this over with.” Theo laughed, shaking her head. “This is Everything has Changed.”

Of the songs she helped record, Everything has Changed was one of her favorites - she always thought her sister would have loved the song. It was light and sweet and romantic, and Rae was always a romantic at heart.

God, what she’d give to see her sister again.

“All I knew this morning when I woke / is I know something now / know something now I didn’t before / and all I’ve seen since eighteen hours ago / is green eyes and freckles and your smile / in the back of my mind making me feel like / I just wanna know you better…”

From the back of the crowd, a pair of green eyes caught hers, and she couldn’t help but smile.

If there was anyone she wanted to know better, it was the intrepid Asgardian sorcerer who had long shed the reputation of wanting to conquer Earth and replaced it with equal parts charm, mystery, and wit sharper than the daggers he fought with. The sole interaction she’d had with him only increased her curiosity - Loki was one of the few Avengers who didn’t express reservations about her before they were aware she was in the briefing, and he seemed almost amused at the way she pulled the wool over the others’ eyes.

And based on the way he studied her, it seemed like he wanted to know her better too.

#my writing #e writes stuff #wip #loki fanfic #loki fanfiction #loki fic #loki odinson #loki laufeyson #loki x ofc fanfic #loki x ofc fanfiction #loki x oc fanfiction #loki x oc fiction #loki x oc fanfic #mcu loki #loki #When Everything's Made to be Broken #WEMtbB

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daggerzine · 6 months

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Anna Hillburg- Tired Girls (Speakeasy Studios SF)

Wow, what a beautiful record that I might not have heard (or at least not heard so soon) had it not been for a pal on social media recommending it (Bradley Skaught from another fine Bay Area combo, the Bye Bye Blackbirds was the recommender). I knew Anna’s name as I was a big fan of her previous combo Dreamdate (all three of their albums are good but their 2nd one, 2009’s Patience, is my favorite) so I had to check this one out. This is Hillburg’s 3rd solo record and again, it’s a truly marvelous record recorded with Papercuts' Jason Quever, who seemed to be a perfect foil for these songs.

Apparently, Hilburg wrote most of the sketches of these songs in isolation in an apartment in Nevada City, CA during the COVID lockdown. Not only that, but Hillburg is a trained musician, proficient in several different instruments so she really let her talent fly here (she plays the trumpet parts here among other things).

Working with a full band (including Yea Ming Chen from Dreamdate on keyboards among others) this is chamber pop of the highest order. The first cut “Early Morning Dreams” sounds as lovely as its title while “Holdin’ On," one of the finest cuts I’ve heard all year, is one of the centerpieces here (Hillburg’s vocals are truly enchanting on this song), and the 3rd song, the title track, blasts more of that trumpet into another stellar song. Toward the end she throws some pedal steel on the country-ish "What To Do With The Lights Out” and the closer “Happier Times” adds some real R&B coolness.

At just over half an hour, Tired Girls doesn’t waste a note and I think this Hillburg/Quever combo might just be a match made in heaven. Hillburg called Tired Girls a feminist record, one meant to help empower women and I think she certainly did that and then some. One of my favorites of 2023!

www.annahillburg,bandcamp.com

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lindajenni · 6 months

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oct 27

a safe harbor, a full deliverance

i confess that is true because it is the word of God and God cannot lie. i confess it for me and i confess it for you. i believe it for me and i believe it for you. if ever there is a place for the weary and down trodden to come, it should be to the church of God.

there are many precious believers out there who have grown weary. weary of the burden they feel they are carrying alone. weary of the times that are descending upon us. weary and perhaps even dreadful of what may be coming next. we must not let them give up when the finish line is so close. we may not be the first to cross, but we stop to carry our brother across with us. in so doing, "the last will be first, and the first last." matt 20:16

yes, i could tell you the old cliches. "it's always darkest before the dawn." "this too shall pass." i'm sure you have heard them all many times. words spoken by man meant to console are useless to create an environment other than pity; even self pity. only the word of God can bring peace, joy and light into the situation.

if i might, i would offer you one more cliche. "take it to the Lord in prayer." "so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." acts 3:19 there is a peace and joy that comes when we lay it before the Lord. and we all know: the joy of the Lord is our strength!

we often talk about offering sacrifices to God. sacrifices of self. sacrifices of praise. He also wants us to sacrifice our burdens to Him. perhaps you do not consider a burden as a worthy sacrifice. has He not said, "'My strength is made perfect in weakness.' therefore most gladly i will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 cor 12:9

have you tried to carry it all alone for too long? do you see no way out of it all? respite is to be had. "for we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." 2 chron 20:12 i think of the verse from a song we used to sing. "Jesus knows that when we praise Him, when we lift Him up and raise Him, it does as much for us as it does for Him, cause we get lifted up."

"praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness! praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the lute and harp! praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals! let everything that has breath praise the Lord." psa 150:1-6

praise Him in the midst of your struggles and trials. yes, battle against the attacks of the enemy. confess the victory and believe it is yours. receive the comfort only He can give. "we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen." 2 cor 4:18 faith is a real substance and the unseen can become seen.

"who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 cor 1:4 we are the body of Christ. let us wrap our arms around those who have a need, be it physical, mental or spiritual. we are "thoroughly equipped for every good work". 2 tim 3:17

"behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear." isa 59:1 are you hearing what i'm hearing today? there are some who need to give and there are some who need to receive. we are one body, working in unison, to care for the whole.

"no man left behind." it's not just a slogan of man. it is the cry of God's heart. "that the members should have the same care for one another. and if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it." 1 cor 12:25-26

"let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." gal 6:9 “for yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry." heb 10:37

there is a safe harbor and a full deliverance awaiting each of us at the end. our journey may be hazardous but we know the One who commands the waves of the sea and calms the storm. know this: when the perfect storm arises Jesus will be our perfect rescue. "gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice." psa 50:5

#prayer #faith #rapture #jesus #jesus is coming

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avaliveradio · 1 year

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Watch the Bud E. Luv Video - Music To Watch Girls By

There are very few music genres as diverse as the big band music. The songs are movie-worthy, and lyrics are fun and upbeat. The Big band music was popular in the United States and Europe from the early 1930s through the late 1940s. The term "Big Band" came from names of arrangers and leaders, such as Duke Ellington and Count Basie. Big band songs are often associated with dance parties and are very easy to sing along to with big instrumentals done in grand style. The music is so versatile that it has been used in many different genres, including jazz and pop.

In the 50's swing music was really popular, and there were many big bands that played the music. The popularity of swing music began to decline after World War II, but it made a comeback in the late 1950s when rock and roll was introduced. At this time, the big band sound changed with the times and added elements of rock n' roll into their sound.

I love this style of music and find it refreshing to hear in 2023. Music To Watch Girls By by Bud E. Luv has that fun Vegas style with all the grander of that time. The music has a 50's swing feel to it, with the saxophones and trumpets playing in harmony. I kept hearing moments of James Bond style vibes throughout the song and I found the lyrics to be clever and fun to listen to. The band is tight, and the singer has a great voice. He is able to take the listener into another world with his lyrics, as well as play off of them with his voice for some really fun moments.

The black and white video reminds me of a movie with charming videography and an excellent quality camera capturing the performers smile and showmanship. This is a really terrific performance that you don’t see often enough in todays music. Take look at the video. Enjoy

Music Review by Jacqueline Jax

youtube

“Music To Watch Girls By,” as performed by Bud E. Luv on hiTrecords, is a celebration. He believes that people are going to be people and do what people do.

Naturally, and irrespective of changing societal mores, meaning we’re going to look at each other, and appreciate what we see, regardless of age, appearance, or anything else.

The world is there and meant to be recognized. And valued and respected.

Mr. Luv understands the essential dynamic between people; he’s lived long enough and seen enough of the world to know that it’s not about degrading the visage, but instead honoring and celebrating it in all its forms.

Social Links & Website: hitrecords.co

instagram.com/hitrecordssf

#pop music

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hillmartens47 · 1 year

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A Pvc Greenhouse - Step By Step

I am a fan of both the into 1 Harley Pipe anyways along with the Vance and Hines Pro Pipe fits that bill nicely. A two into 1 pipe 1 of my personal favorite manufacturers, here are my head on the pipe. If require drive regularly to bike, then plus yuantai steel pipe can be happy to know about recent bicycle car rack innovations usually make their transporting your bikes significantly easier for customers. Pipe organs are earth's largest and very complex acoustic instruments. They are square pipe great monsters with many, many different-sized pipes. Each pipe provides a unique songs. Several pipes played in combination can produce other, non-organ sounds - a trumpet, a flute, a violin, a pig squealing. Okay, so maybe not a pig squealing, but you can obtain a large associated with sounds. Decide the place maximum water level in the reservoir should be. Using a spirit level mark this on your downspout. Taking account of this rainwater diverters design cut the pipe and install the diverter. Using the connection kit get connected to the water tank. The pipe from the diverter should slope down slightly so that water will flow along it. Even so, the bigger up link the better as yummy snack . the impact of connector leaks near the reservoir. If an individual might be removing a radiator and replacing it with a towel rail that is often a completely different size you will need to alter the pipe extends. This isn't a job for a novice; should you not think perfect complete task confidently, obtain a plumber in! Before going to the hardware store, garden outlet, another home improvement center, definitely will either do bring an area of the broken pipe, the broken sprinkler head, or simply know the size of your PVC pipe would be. For gardening the tube is normally 1/2 or 3/4 OD. Once you know the size, you begins looking for your parts permits be mandated. For the break as length in the pipe, you'll look for every PVC-slip shared. This will allow you to cut the broken section of pipe out and easily slip brand new section in for repair. The second method is correctly a trick that so many people are not aware of but can sometimes be a life saver if in order to stranded accompanied by a trail or freeway. square gi pipe size take your tire in the rim and pull the actual inner tube. You must find the hole, which is workable by pumping the inner tube with air, and listen for your air seeping out or rub salvia over the interior tube until your find the hole. Once you the hole cut the tube close to the perforation. You will now have one long inner tube. You'll want to tie off both ends of the tube and it back underneath your tire. You can put tire back on the rim and pump it full of air. Have to now capacity to ride your bike, granted has been only one hole. It may not as the smoothest ride but heading to at least get you back home or meant for car. SMP Skatepark, China. This particular really is another huge outdoor skatepark, located in Shanghai, Kathmandu. I'm not sure how many people actually utilize this park, it also probably serves its purpose well enough. SMP is over 44,000 square feet of concrete, and comes with countless bowls, pools, or even over vert pipes, much like those in the Black Pearl Skatepark.

#square tube #hollow pipe #gi pipe #yuantai pipe

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god-whispers · 2 years

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may 23

"the Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that i should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to hear as the learned." isa 50:4 i confess that is true because it is the word of God and God cannot lie. i confess it for me and i confess it for you. i believe it for me and i believe it for you.

"let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." gal 6:9 “for yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry." heb 10:37

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iprefertheterminsane · 4 years

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Okay. I don’t think anyone has said it yet, so I guess it’s up to me.

look, I remember when I first heard of the Good Omens fandom, and naturally, Aziraphale’s name, I was struck frozen like, “Wait, I know that name. Israfil, that's a first. Which is what reluctantly pulled me in

(I’m a Muslim)

See, growing up, we have this nursery rhyme for the 10 most important angels that you have to know, and Israfil’s name was right up there (if you want to know, the other nine are Jibril, Mikail, Mungkar, Nakir, Raqib, Atid,Ridhwan, Malik andIzrail)Christians to mention some of them in movies, I mean, you guys have versions of them too, right? So I’ve naturally heard the mentions of Jibril (Gabriel), Mikail (Michael) and Izrail (Azrael), but I was kind of stuck at the mention of Israfil of all angels, so throughout all 6 episodes I kept trying to remember what his main purpose was, in the nursery rhyme (you know that thing that you can’t think of something purely due to the reason because you’re looking for it?). As the story progressed I began to recall that he was a pretty big deal for starting Doomsday, but it wasn’t until this scene happened;

that it occurred to me what Israfil’s purpose was, in Islamic terms-

He blows the Sangkakala

Right, you guys don’t know what the Sangkakala is, of course.

The Sangkakala is basically this musical instrument that Israfil was tasked with to blow to start Doomsday, nothing can begin without it. In fact, the blowing of the Sangkakala basically does half of the job.

is basically what it looks like, and what could possibly be the approximation of its size. There are, even, entire theories circulating to whether or not the blowing of the Sangkakala was also behind the Scientific theory of the Big Bang. The closest I’ve ever heard of another mythology or religion that has someone that more or less has someone tasked with this is Heimdall, in the Norse mythology (thank Magnus Chase for that one). Basically, In Islamic terms, At the Beginning, and the End of All Things, the Big Star of the show is, and always has been, Aziraphale.

That, my friends, is how big of a deal he is.

Which, by the way, makes this scene all the more hilarious and scandalous, to me at the same time;

because to me, what it looked like is basically that these angels, irritated by Aziraphale’s behavior and fraternizing with a demon and whatnot, had decided to, against God’s rule, just give the job to someone else. And if that wasn’t crossing a line, I don’t know what is. I genuinely thought this, which makes his look of scandalized offense, after the sound of the trumpets, make much more sense. Doomsday, the End of All Things, had been tasked to Israfil (Aziraphale) since before the Beginning of Time. He was one of the earliest angels to have been created, due to this fact. Which meant, that God said, in the Beginning, Doomsday won’t start until Israfil says so. It wasn’t until Israfil says so, that things can proceed accordingly. I really think that this is why God made it so that he, Crowley and Adam

had managed to avert Doomsday so successfully. And why Death, when the Them had managed to beat the other three Horsemen, went peacefully. He knew his place. Aziraphale/Israfil said ‘no, Not Today,’ so Izrail/Azrael/Death just went ‘Fine. Hit me up when it is.’ He remembered his place. The other Angels did not. Aziraphale/Israfil just did his job-God would probably contact him personally should the End Times were ever to come about-so he wasn’t punished. What is there to punish? I wager God probably thought that the resulting Chaos and Humiliation on Both Sides were enough of a punishment to just let things be, after that.

Which, you know, ends my take on why God let Aziraphale and Crowley get away with living the rest of their lives on Earth like the hedonistic, naive Ethereal and Occult creatures they are.

End Scene

#BAMF Aziraphale #ineffable husbands #Ineffable beuracracy #God's saying sorry for the inconvenience #Wont happen again #Enjoy my lil trash bois #Islamic take on the trumpet scene

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aetherarf · 3 years

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can i request diluc’s s/o trying to convince him to perform this song at the windblume festival

the s/o plays the guitar

kaeya plays the drums

rosaria plays the piano

and venti plays his lyre

anon... ur mind... bless....

also its been a long time since ive used tumblr outside of posting my writings, WHEN WAS PUTTING HYPERLINKS IN ASKS A THING?

[ i tweaked some of the ideas you offered... just read :) ]

this request killed me its so long. sorry if its weird.

[[ Summary: The wind embodies change, and with it, even the Harpastum festival must change... And you're intent on bringing the change.

Word Count: 4'855 ]]

Countless pages of sheet music, of instruments awkwardly acquired through countless means, songs written...

You looked over the mass of objects. It looked messy, but... hey, they weren't being used right now!

Harpastum had always been a great time for celebration, for bringing loud joy and exuberance... And you were in charge of heralding another change in the City of the Wind.

You intended on putting together a massive performance, a band all together to play music, and to gather Mondstadt to bear witness. However, there was a few problems with this..

You may have written all the music, but you were one person. You couldn't play all the instruments, even if you had reasonable grasp of all of them, and you definitely couldn't sing the lead part--Your voice just couldn't project well enough, as well as you couldn't hit the necessary notes.

You had a few weeks before it was time for you to put everyone on the stage... was that enough time?

... You'd have to figure it out then.

Maybe you could ask Barbara for help? She had her own concerts from time to time, as Mondstadt's Idol herself, so... She might know how to help.

... Sigh. The cathedral.

A quick walk through and a few questions with the sisters told you Barbara was taking a day off--of course, you were happy for her! She never was very good at taking care of herself, but it just left you frustrated with the fact that you truly were alone to figure this out...

You couldn't sit another minute amongst countless instruments that taunted you, so you sat on a bench, looking over the papers you carried with you...

You could take one of the spots... Whatever was left over, really, minus being the singer. Actually--you had an idea of who could be the singer, so you didn't really worry too much, that'd be the easiest of this whole ordeal... it was just... everything else.

"Yahoo! Wah-ACK!"

You jerked your head up, seeing Venti gliding right above you, then a spear shot over him, shooting through his windglider, destroying it as he crashed to the ground, rolling like a dropped sack of potatoes pushed down a hill, but just managing to jump up with a sigh.

"Dangit. Oh, hi!" He trotted over to you, as though he had not been nearly maimed by a sudden weapon, "Hey! What are you looking at?" He was still panting when he bent at the waist, not minding your personal space as he looked at the music, you panicked and pulled it to your chest.

"I-... Are you okay?" You asked, and Venti just shrugged, sitting down next to you.

"I've been worse. I just made a sister very angry at me... Nothing new!"

You looked at him oddly, only to hear the sound of feet stomping on the stone ground, and to see a sister standing over you--

No, over him.

"Bard," She said, harshly, "I could imprison you beneath the Knight headquarters this instant for this, you know."

Venti stood up, "Of course, but! Ack!" With one hand, he held onto his chest, and dramatically fell back, one hand holding the back of the bench, "You've already wounded me so... was this a suffecient enough punishment...?" He asked, dramatically rasping for death,

"Blegh..." He stumbled back, and fell over the back of the bench, his legs from the knee-down hanging over the top of it.

The woman just groaned, shaking her head and grabbing one of his legs, tossing it off to the side of the bench, hearing Venti go oomf! As he completely hit the ground, and the woman took the spot he was just sitting in.

"What do you have there?" She asked, looking over.

"Well, hello to you too, Rosaria."

Rosaria looked at your face--no emotion on her own, and she just repeated herself, "What do you have there?"

You handed over the papers, and she took, holding them with much more care than Venti ever would of--He already slung his arms over the back of the bench, his chin resting atop it so he could watch whatever you and Rosaria were doing, in a... metaphorically front row seat.

"I'm planning something for Harpastum. A... concert, like Barbara's. But I can't really find the people I need." You admitted, genuinely, and she flipped through it a little. Eventually, you noticed she was looking over the piano part.

"I see. Nothing to be concerned of, for me or for you." She set it down on the bench between the both of you, only for Venti to snatch it up, snooping through it as well.

"What do you mean?" You asked, watching Venti out of the corner of your eye.

"Well, you're not sharing anything dangerous with the bard-" She reached over, and flicked him right between the eyes.

"Owwie... you're mean." Venti pouted, for all of two seconds before he went back to reading through it all- the sheet music, the plans, the lyrics, all that.

"As well as the piano part looked simple enough... Don't bother asking the other sister," Rosaria leaned back, "But anyone who knows and has limber enough hands to keep up can play it."

"I like this trumpet part," Venti mentioned, idly, "It's... bouncy."

"Well, it's supposed to be... and if you two iike it so much..."

Both of them locked their gazes right on you,

"Would you be willing to just play a little? And-and if you like it, maybe play for the concert? it's not a big thing, I promise!"

There was a silence, before Venti shouted--loudly, "Of course! Even if it's different than normal, a bard always strives to entertain!"

He then dramatically fell behind the bench again, with a loud oomf.

You idly wonder how he's not permanently as purple as a grape from all the bumps and bruises he gets.

"... Hm. What's in it for me?"

You looked at her helplessly...

"... Conner has a special batch of wine brewing for Harpastum, meant to be drunk near-frozen... for the heat, you know? I can get Diluc to get you a bottle."

Rosaria's eyes widened.

"Wait, do I get wine too?" Venti asked, peeking over the back of the bench.

You sighed, "Everyone who performs will get a bottle of this special wine, I promise!"

Venti, again, cheered loudly.

"Hm," Rosaria hummed, "I'll try out playing the part, at least. Do you have a piano? I don't really want the other sisters to yell at me for playing such..." she raised her hands, doing air quotes, "violent music in the Cathedral."

"I do, I do," you stood up, more than a little excited, "It's at my place, come on! Fair warning, it's a bit of a mess, but it's not like I'm having the concert there."

"Meh, everything's messy at some point." Venti shrugged, and Rosaria simply said nothing, letting you lead the both of them forth...

Oh, this was all coming together!

...

By the time the three of you got there, the first thing you did was move the drums--ah, still needed a drummer, oh well. You moved them out of the way to give access to the piano, adjusting the drums to make it all the easier for whoever came next to play... and, tucked away, you pulled out the trumpet, all but shoving it into Venti's hands as Rosaria sat down.

On the piano, you set down Rosaria's part, and you placed a stand before Venti, setting the sheet music down for the trumpet there..

"Okay... Rosaria?" You looked over at her, and she just tilted her head to look at you, "How about you play your part--Venti, if you blow that in my ear, I will end you."

Venti, sheepishly, tucked the trumpet behind his back, "What? Why would I do that... Ehe..."

You glared at him, "Oh, and..." You fumbled around with the clutter, finding a metronome and setting it on top of the piano, setting it to the right beat...

And without prompting, Rosaria began playing, near slamming her fingertips onto the keys of the piano--nothing like the music that was played in the Cathedral, that was always gentle, loving tickling of the ivory keys, but this was loud and harsh, banging, as though demanding you to move.

"Perfect!" You couldn't help but shout out, making Rosaria hit a wrong key, and she jerked around to glare at you.

"... Sorry," you admitted, "But, oh my goodness... It's perfect! Please, please tell me you'll play!" You were ready to get down on your knees and beg...

She examined your expression...

"... Maybe. Assuming you can get everyone else. And I expect a sample of the wine before we get on stage."

"Of course, of course, that's-that's more than acceptable!"

"Heyyy..." Venti whined, "What about me?"

"Oh, right," Venti just withered at that statement, "Don't do that, now... your turn, Venti."

He perked up without an issue, pressing the trumpet to his lips, and you flipped the sheet music to its first page--

And it was loud, each note forced out with excitement and enthusiasm, Venti all but dancing as he played, even as both his hands were on the trumpet itself, bouncing where he stood--

The music sounded just as excited as he looked.

"Perfect!"

Once again, you made one of your bandmates [ Oh, bandmates! This is really coming together! ] jump, and play a wrong note.

You couldn't be bothered to care!

"Okay, okay! That leaves... That leaves the drums and the guitar..."

You looked at both, focusing on them... "I can play both, but..."

You sighed, withering again at the realization that you were still just at the beginning.

"Not at once..."

Venti looked over the drums curiously for a moment... And smiled.

"I have an idea-"

"You're not going to play them with your feet, Venti."

"THAT WASN'T MY IDEA... Even if it's totally a great idea. But--isnt there a particular Cavalry Captain who was raised in a rich family? They do love teaching their children the musical arts..." Venti hummed.

You stared blankly for a moment, "Kae...ya? Do you actually think he knows how to play, well, anything?"

"Duh, he's a rich boy!" Venti shouted, "Sure, Diluc is the actual rich boy, but we all know he'd rather kiss a Hilichurl than go on stage!"

... You hoped not.

"Well, I suppose it's worth a shot. Do you two want to come with me?"

"Sure!"

"I've got nothing better to do."

What a merry little band you've gotten, all parading your way down to the Knight's headquarters.

It didn't take long to find the office Kaeya was in, all three of you filtering in, all but surrounding his desk, and Kaeya looked up suspiciously, setting down the pen in hand.

"I'd ask if this was an intervention about my drinking, but none of you are able to say anything about it."

Venti, "Hey!"

Rosaria, "Fair."

You just huffed.

"No, this isn't an intervention... yet," You knew Diluc had been getting worried about Kaeya's drinking as of late, but this wasn't the time nor the place, "We have a little... performance going on for the Harpastum, and a little bird told me you know how to play a few instruments."

Kaeya's gaze turned to Venti, and he quirked a brow, before looking back at you, "Maybe... What's this performance?"

You bounced a little where you stood--this meant he might actually say yes! Maybe. Hopefully. Possibly.

"W-well, I've composed some music, it's... Not so much a ballad, but closer to how Barbara sings. It's meant to have a lead singer, a guitarist, a drummer," you nodded to Rosaria, "A pianist," and then to Venti, "And someone on the trumpet."

"So... where do you want me?"

You stared hoplessly.

"... Anywhere."

Venti lightly tapped your arm, speaking in a low voice, hiding his mouth from Kaeya with one flat hand, "Don't sound so desperate."

"I am desperate." You whispered back, less secretive about it.

"Hm... So, paint me a picture," he leaned back in his seat, "What's the whole setup?"

You, exasperatedly, explained it all.

There was supposed to be a lead singer--sadly, you couldn't take the role despite all your hard work, simply because your voice didn't work with what you needed--and behind, or perhaps, beside the lead singer was the accompanying band. The whole concert wasn't supposed to be terribly long, just to whet the appetite of the audience. If it went well, this could be a great sign for your future, and honestly, you just wanted to see the joy you could bring to others.

Kaeya didn't say anything, just humming, nodding every so often, as you spoke... until, he smiled.

"Alright. I'm in. I can take the drums--I always did like percussion... But I don't exactly have a set of my own."

"Oh!" You were beaming, "I have-I have a set, I have all the instruments at my place, and... and I can play the guitar, so..."

You lead the group, all the way back to your place, giving Kaeya a few minutes to adjust to it, and you had the guitar in your hands, and you all managed to, barely, play the first few seconds of it, before it got a little cluttered...

But if you all could already do a little together, with little to no practice...

Well, you only needed time and the lead singer, and that was the easiest of your troubles... after all, how could he say no to you.

...

"No."

Diluc had his arms folded over his chest, nearly glaring at you after you proposed the idea, and you were stunned for a second, expecting him to say yes immediately, you didn't really have a back up response in mind.

"No...?" You asked again, softly.

"I don't like being in... the metaphorical or literal spotlight. You know this."

You did, but...

"Diluc, you're perfect for the spot... And it won't be long, I promise! If it goes bad, you never have to do it again... I already have the other spots fulfilled..."

Diluc's gazed softened a little, and he looked away from you.

"You can't expect me to be your saving grace all the time," he, gently, scolded, "It's not fair for you to plan me into things without my consent."

You were... stunned.

He was right, but...

"... I know." You admitted, "I know, I know, it was selfish... but I really, really need you... Can you, just... Give me one chance? And just do this for me?"

Diluc's hands twitched.

"I'll consider it. I don't think I'd be as good of a match for the spot as you'd think." He admitted, genuinely.

"It's made for you... how about this--I get you the sheet music with the lyrics, and... you don't have to see the rest of the band yet. You can just... try it out on your own? See how it feels? If you truly hate it, then you don't have to."

There was a moment of silence, and Diluc was adjusting his gloves--a clear sign that he was, truly, thinking about it.

"Fine."

From anyone else, the word would have seemed stern, but it just sounded so soft coming from him.

"I have to go see someone... Just leave it on my desk and I'll go through it."

Oh, oh, you could only hope he'd end up showing...

Hope, hope, hope...

...

And you did hope, even if you were worried. More than once you'd come home, hearing him singing his lines oh-so beautifully, but as you tried to stealthily get closer, he always heard your footsteps, no matter how careful you were and went silent, denying he had ever once sung.

Did he really hate the idea so much?

... Didn't matter. It was time to practice, and Kaeya was setting everyone off, tapping his drumsticks together to set up a beat--

"One, two, three, four!"

And everyone was playing together--of course, it wasn't perfect, but it was good. They were managing to work together, and it sounded just as good, no, better than you had hoped... Of course it would sound better with all the parts together, instead of just each all on their own.

All it needed was a little more practice, and the lead singer.

You just desperately hoped that it was all going to end up alright.

The song ended, and Kaeya was half panting--he really did go all out with the drums, Venti even opted to sitting on the ground, and as far as you could tell, despite the fast paced music and the high demand for energy, she didn't seem to have broken a sweat.

"That's... oh boy, yeah, we're going to need practice." Kaeya said, half hunched over, "I forgot how much energy this took."

"We have a few weeks, still." You tried to console him, "Everyone should be ready by then."

"Even your mystery singer?" Rosaria asked.

"Yeah, you keep saying you have one, but... it's alright if you don't. I don't think I could take the part and drum, but I can probably find someone..."

"No, I do, I do!" You insisted.

You hoped.

Only time would tell.

...

You sat there, head in your hands...

It was today, and Diluc and Kaeya left weeks ago. Venti sat beside you, his hand on your back, and Rosaria paced back and forth.

"I'm going to kill them," Rosaria declared, "I'm going to kill both of them for ditching like this, for doing this to you. To all of us."

It seemed, maybe, she was all torn up about this... in her own way--Of course, this had bonded everyone together, but...

"I just..." You sighed, and Rosaria stopped in her tracks. You couldn't help the tears that came to your eyes, "I worked so hard... and Kaeya nor Diluc didn't even tell me where he went..."

"Oh... No, no, it's nothing bad, I promise." Venti reassured, "There was a threat... I-I can't really tell you everything, or else I'm dead, but he didn't just leave because of this, I promise."

"But Kaeya, as well?" You looked at Venti's face...

"He went with Diluc."

"How do you know?" Rosaria glared at him.

"W-Well, I helped them get a ride... It was quite a dire situation, you know!"

He was lying, but you didn't care. Maybe he was just lying to make it hurt a little bit less.

"I'm sure, once one comes, the other will be here too..."

"I can't reschedule this," you sighed, "Everyone was so excited... I can't just... give up..."

Venti hugged you close, letting you rest your head on his shoulder...

You were so caught up that you didn't even hear the footsteps approaching,

"About time, assholes."

"Hey, I didn't mean to disappear like that!"

A shadow came over you, and you lifted your head, seeing Diluc standing there--

"Are you-OOMF!"

You leapt at Diluc, almost causing him to fall back onto his ass, but he was able to hold you close, keeping you both from falling.

"Diluc... I was so scared, I was so worried..." You buried your face into his coat, "Don't leave like that ever again."

For a moment, he was silent, looking around as everyone was looking at him... But, gently, he pried you off of him,

"Hey," he said, softly, "We still have a concert to put on."

You stared at him, confused, before it all hit you at once, "Oh, oh my gods, you're right! Oh, we-we need to set up, no, no we need to practice... you two are... okay to play, right?"

Kaeya looked over at Diluc curiously, "Two...?"

"I meant, are you okay to play?" You detached from Diluc entirely, trying to focus on him.

"Honestly, I'm about ready to die, but one concert before I do isn't the end of the world." He joked, "Now... Let's get practicing. I'm rusty and I don't want to fuck this up."

"... I'll be getting things ready for you." Diluc said, feeling forgotten amongst the chaos.

"Right, and..." You pressed a kiss to Diluc's cheek, "Thank you."

It only took one more moment for you to focus back on the others, bringing them all to where they'd practice...

You wondered, was Diluc really intending on just showing up last minute?

Did he ever practice?

Well...

You were about to find out.

...

Everyone was set up. The instruments, everyone was dressed in suits--even Rosaria and yourself. Rosaria insisted she did not want to wear a dress, and you decided that since everyone else was wearing a suit, you'd wear one as well, appearing uniformly.

It was unbuttoned a little further than what was considered professional, but... hey, it looked good, even if Rosaria really looked like she was about to commit an accidental act of public indecency...

Everyone was there, except...

Him.

"Do you actually have that lead singer?" Rosaria asked, addressing the elephant in the room, "He hasn't been in a single one of our rehearsals..."

"Of course I do, he's just..." You hesitated, "He's not the most social. I promise, I promise... That he'll show."

There was a silence, you couldn't help but just sit there... Wondering in terror if, despite everything, Diluc wasn't going to show. You knew he was mad about you planning him into it without his consent, or even knowledge, but... Was he really going to punish you like this?

It was a bit cruel, but you couldn't blame him. You sat down, and sighed, head in your hands. Venti trotted over, sitting beside you and setting his hand on your back.

"It'll go great, singer or no singer." He reassured, "We've worked so hard, we can do it even if you dumb singer stands you up."

"Don't call him dumb," you scolded, lightly, "We... just... I don't know. I put him in a bad spot." You admitted, genuinely, seeing how Kaeya and Rosaria walked over, "He might be mad at me."

"Well, you're human." Kaeya reassured, "You mess up. If he can't accept that you'll mess up and cause problems sometimes, maybe he's a bit too rough on you."

"Yeah... and-I did apologize, I know I did wrong, but... We talked about it, and I'm working on not doing something so spontaneous again... But he also knows this means... a lot to me."

A moment of silence, and Kaeya got down on one knee, tilting your chin up to look at him.

"Hey sweetness," he said, softly, "It's alright. We're going to make him regret not showing, alright?"

Rosaria kneeled beside him, "We'll do it together, then I'll do it personally."

You sighed... then chuckled softly, pushing yourself to your feet.

"Thank you. With or without Mister No-Show, the show will go on." You declared... sure, it wasn't what was expected, but you can make it work..!

You hoped.

"Apologies... I'm not late, am I?"

You spun on your heel to look at who just walked in, Diluc... Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

And, as expected, he dressed perfectly.

A fine suit, somewhat similar to Kaeya's, however even if he had just as many buttons undone as Kaeya did over his chest, exposing just enough to make it interesting... it felt so much more... taunting when it was on him.

He even had a little bit of make-up on, some blush on his cheeks, eyeliner, some bright red lipstick that matched his hair, that was done up in a high ponytail...

"Rosaria, you owe me a drink." Kaeya said, and the woman just sighed.

"I'll just pay you."

You looked back at them, barely able to tear your eyes off of him.

"What?" You asked, "Did... Did you guys really make a bet over who the singer was?"

Kaeya just smiled, "Of course. Who would it be, rather than our lovely Master Diluc?" He gestured to Diluc, who didn't seem pleased in the slightest.

"Albedo." Rosaria said, flatly. "But it figures he'd scare us all."

You had a hard time imagining Albedo singing in a concert, but you could argue the same about Diluc.

"Well, it doesn't matter," He shot a glance at Rosaria, "I hope you're ready," Kaeya spun the drumsticks around in his hands, walking back over to the drum set, "Because we're about to start."

"Shouldn't we get a rehearsal with our singer, though?" Venti looked at the concealing curtain--it muffled their conversation, but it wouldn't muffle them all playing.

"We don't want them to hear a rehearsal, we want the first thing they hear to be our best." You declared. "Diluc ... You're ready for this, right?"

You were terrified he was going to mess this up--after all ... He may not have practiced at all!

"Of course," he held your hand, "I know how much this means to you. Now... let's get this started.

...

Lights blaring, the instruments deafening him from all angles, Diluc just counted the beats in his head, trying to keep in tune with it all... Oh, he felt like he could die right here.

No dying.

No giving up.

The show must go on.

Microphone in hand, he began--

"It's a wonderful life-"

He held his hand out to the crowd,

"Please could you kiss my name,"

For the single, not even full beat he had, he blew a kiss to the audience, hearing shouting in turn,

"When the music's oh-ver?"

With the following words, he gesturing to the lights above,

"Turn off the lights,"

They even managed to flicker,

"It was such a sweet time, could you pray for me, my friend?"

He held his hand to his chest,

"It's starting over tiime,

Take oh-ver the night, take over the blue time-

If you heard that screaming shout in your miiind!

Take oh-ver the shine, take oh-ver the shooting star,

All I was talking 'bout was musiiiiiic!"

Even if he could barely even hear, the crowd just exploded before him, the lights too bright for him to see it--

But he wasn't done yet.

The concert continued until it all finally met its end, Diluc panting desperately, getting those gulps of sweet air back into his lungs, looking briefly back at the others, seeing how they, themselves, were full of excitement and joy, even Venti was cheering as though he was part of the audience--not a single one of the entire band was left without being completely exhausted and winded, and Diluc felt that the desire to crash right onto the ground wasn't exclusive to him.

The cheering from the audience was slowly muffled as the curtain closed, signalling the end of this exhausting ordeal.

They all left their instruments on the stage, and walked backstage. Rosaria was the first to start guzzling water, and then she sat down with a huff. Venti just sat down on the floor, leaving the others to nearly trip over him.

Diluc walked backstage last, after everyone else had gotten in, and he was breathing heavily.

"Diluc," Kaeya said, "Holy fuck, I didn't know you could sing like that."

"I didn't either," Diluc admitted, genuine. You jumped at him, hugging him tight.

"Diluc... that was insane! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" You cheered, and he just huffed.

"I know this means a lot to you," he said, softly, and you backed off from the hug... something about him seemed off.

He was swaying a little from side to side, like he wasn't entirely there.

"I think," Diluc said, slowly, "I just need to lie down."

Kaeya was motionless for a second, then his eye shot open and he dove at Diluc, just barely catching him before he crashed to the ground, completely limp in Kaeya's arms,

"Diluc!" You were horrified, and Kaeya just unbent his knees from catching Diluc in an awkward position. "Kaeya... what-"

"He's fine," Kaeya said plainly, shifting to haul Diluc over his shoulder better, "Big liar, he didn't outgrow this."

He brought Diluc over to a table, and you pulled out the chair so Kaeya could have him sit, positioning him so his arms were folded over the table, and he gently set his head on his arms.

"Outgrow this?" You asked, eyeing Diluc cautiously.

"Mhm," Kaeya hummed, "I guess he never told you."

"No, I'm still... confused."

Kaeya folded his arms over his chest, "Well... When Diluc gets overwhelmed, he usually hates it, right?"

You nodded,

"Then he just curls up and tries to hide from whatever's messing with him. But--If he's having a good time? He gets overwhelmed and excited and... then he just passes out. That was the code--I think I just need to lie down, he said that as a kid right before he passed out."

"But," you argued, "I've never seen that."

Kaeya shrugged, "We thought he outgrew it, but I guess he just hasn't had a chance to get that excited in a long time."

"... Do you think," you said, worriedly, "He hated this?"

"No," Kaeya set his hand on Diluc's back, gently rubbing a small circle between his shoulderblades, "He loved it, trust me.

"... He'll be okay. Just give him some time to recover."

If you looked close enough, you could see him smiling.

#genshin impact #genshin x reader #diluc x reader #diluc #kaeya #venti #rosaria #bark writes #fluff #fluffy bark #anonymous #request

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memeadonna · 3 years

Text

Playing with your Heart

Hello all! This story was inspired by a conversation @fox-knives and @malicealieness had with me about Sero pining after a Y/n who was already in a relationship. Because I am a classical musician by trade, this happened! It was a lot of fun to write and talk about, and I really hope you enjoy!

Sero Hanta has been in love with you since you first met, but you’ve already got a boyfriend. When tensions rise between you and your beloved, he has to play the supportive friend and be there for you - right? So why does he want more?

Warnings: NSFW content, recreational drug use

Here are the links to the pieces of music referenced in the story:

Voi Che Sapete

Als Luise die Briefe

Merry Go Round of Life

When people thought of classical musicians, they most often thought of someone posh and straight-laced, someone snobby with way too much time on their hands who won’t listen to a piece unless the composer was long dead. Sero had learned from experience that this was very far from the truth. He was an anomaly himself – a piano prodigy who took up percussion one day because he was bored, and had been accepted on a full ride to UA – one of the top university music programs in the world. He also gave off the aura of someone laid-back and lazy without a care in the world, and he did smoke a lot of weed. Like a lot of weed. Regardless of that, he was well-liked and well respected among his peers. He had a lot of friends who played a variety of instruments and genres, (and from people in the teaching and music therapy specializations too), and nobody ever treated him as less than once they realized he was a massive dork.

Unlike most universities, UA boasted a mix of genres its students could study. There were classical musicians, jazz musicians, pop, rock, singer-songwriter… you could find just about everything here. And among all of that, Sero had found you.

You were a classical singer with stars in your eyes the first time you had met him, and as you had excitedly introduced yourself and asked him if he was the same Sero Hanta you had seen perform a few years ago, adoration hit him hard in the chest. The way you smiled at him made him want to pick you up and kiss you, and when you spoke about music – about his music – with such joy in your eyes…

He fell hard and he fell fast. You were a classical singer, so while he went to orchestra, you went to choir. You always smiled and waved at him in the halls, and helped one another with your theory homework. Every day he fell a little more in love with you, and every day the two of you got closer and closer.

The only problem was that you had a boyfriend. A boyfriend who happened to be one of Sero’s best friends, and biggest rivals. Bakugou Katsuki was one of the most talented musicians Sero had ever met. He had perfect pitch, and could make absolutely any instrument sing. He didn’t play the piano (or anything with a keyboard), but he played just about everything else. Violin, cello, trumpet, clarinet, piccolo, bass, percussion… people called him the one-man orchestra. He could play more instruments than Jirou Kiyoka, who was one of the university’s best and brightest.

Bakugou wanted desperately to be a conductor, and that’s how he had met you. The two of you were taking the same elective conducting course, and had agreed to practice together. One thing had led to another, and the two of you had been going steady for a while now. Sero loved seeing you happy, but god if it didn’t make him so fucking jealous that it was with another man. What he wouldn’t give to be the one you looked at that way.

He noticed you seemed less happy about six months into your relationship with Bakugou. You and Sero had finished your counterpoint assignments together before one of your classes, and after conducting your smile seemed a little more forced. You didn’t give Sero a hug like you normally would, and as you paused outside of the percussion studio’s door clutching an art song book you looked sort of… lost. He had been practicing his marimba when you had shown up, and he had stopped to smile over at you.

“What’s wrong, Cherubino?” he asked sweetly. He called you that because the first thing he’d ever heard you perform was Voi Che Sapete, and he couldn’t get that performance out of his head. Hearing you asking someone to tell you if the feelings that overwhelmed you were love made him want to pull you off of the stage and into his arms while he kissed you senseless.

He also liked that it meant cherub, but the real reason was that he kept slipping up and trying to call you “Cariño”, but it was easy to change that into “Cherubino”, even though they didn’t sound remotely similar.

“Well,” you blushed and began to fiddle with your hair. God, he wanted to braid it or stick his nose in it while he hugged you. Your shampoo always smelled so good, like marigolds on a sunny day. “The spring showcase is coming up.” You started. He knew about that, of course, it was one of the biggest events of the year for UA University. The crowd was typically at least three thousand strong, and only the best and brightest got to perform. “You know how someone from our conducting class was going to be given the opportunity to conduct the orchestra for one of the pieces?” oh, he knew how much you wanted to do that. As he was about to comfort you for not getting the part, you cut him off. “They chose me.”

“That’s wonderful!” before he could stop himself, he was hoisting you into his arms and spinning you around. He set you down, and noticed that you looked anything but happy. “Cherubino?”

“Katsuki’s mad at me,” you replied, fidgeting a bit. “I knew how much he wanted it. He told me I only got the position because they want him to play the violin solo, and I can’t even get mad at him because he’s right.”

Sero started to curse the blond boy out in Spanish. “How could he say something like that to you?” Sero grit his teeth. “It is not true. He’s just mad that you’re better than him.”

You looked away like you didn’t believe him, and Sero felt the overwhelming urge to sock Bakugou across the face. You forced a smile. “They also asked me to sing at the showcase. Guess what I’m going to be singing?”

“Hmmmm,” he calmed instantly at your seemingly lighter mood, rubbing his chin like he hadn’t already read the email that had gone out. “Voi che sapete?” He asked coyly.

“Certo!” you nodded as you grinned at him, and if you were his he would be kissing you stupid right now. “Do you want to get lunch? Bakugou went off to go talk with Kirishima and apparently, he doesn’t want to be seen with both a viola player and his girlfriend. One’s bad enough.”

“It would be an honour to take you to lunch, mi media naranja,” he packed up his mallets and you hummed Als Luise die Briefe. It was a short piece about a scorned woman burning her lover’s letters, and cursing the fact that her love for him would still burn within her.

“I’ve played that before,” he told you, smiling over at you. “On the piano. Maybe we could jam out sometime.”

Your eyes lit up. “Yeah, sounds like fun!” you beamed at him. “I’d love to. I’ll get us a practice room. Do you have the sheet music?”

“Oi!” you jumped as you heard Bakugou call your name from across the hall. “Let’s go get lunch like you wanted.” He looked between you and Sero, his frown never changing. “We’ve got something to celebrate, don’t we?”

You broke out into a cheery smile. “I asked Sero if he wanted to come with us,” you answered, tugging him out of the percussion room and into the hall with you. “Because I didn’t think you were still going to want to go for lunch since you ran off with Kirishima.”

Bakugou looked between you and Sero. “He’s coming on a date?” he asked skeptically.

“Ah, right,” you smiled over at Sero. “Sorry. Rain check?”

“Rain check,” he agreed. “Have fun, Cherubino.” He waved at you and you trotted back into Bakugou’s arms. He placed a kiss on your lips as the two of you interlocked your fingers. His heart twisted as you looked over at Bakugou with such adoration. Bakugou, however, wasn’t looking at you. He was staring directly at Sero.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You beat out a 4/4 pattern while Sero watched you intently, the metronome in his head ticking the time exactly. You beckoned with your free hand, painting music only you could hear with your fingers, using ten paintbrushes at once to carve out a masterpiece.

You came to the end of the piece and held the final note in your palm. You kept the energy in the room captive for a few moments longer, and when you released it, Sero smiled at you. “Perfectly on time,” he smiled. “I don’t know why you’re so nervous about it.”

You looked up at him. “Just that Katsuki keeps criticizing me whenever I try to practice and he catches me,” you smiled softly. “I get he’s trying to help but it really does the opposite. We start rehearsals with the orchestra soon, and I don’t want to look stupid in front of everyone.”

Sero frowned. “Well, you won’t look stupid at all, Cherubino,” he smiled. “You’ll look graceful and beautiful, and you’ll shape your music so exquisitely.”

You smiled softly at him. “Thanks, Sero,” you smiled.

A few days later, after your first orchestra rehearsal, you slunk back into the percussion room looking absolutely defeated. He had been practicing with his newest kalimba, playing something from a Ghibli movie. You had walked in and he had immediately swept you into a hug.

“What’s wrong, mi media naranja?” he had asked, but he had a feeling he knew the answer as you held him tightly.

You looked up and smiled bravely. “It’s okay,” you answered. “I just – Katsuki was being – he screamed at me during rehearsal and called me incompetent.”

He pulled you into another hug, eyes blazing with fire. He had turned down the ability to be a part of this piece’s performance – he had wanted to see it – but he knew he just had to be. He would swap with someone just for you, so he could be there to support you.

“What is with you always running to him?” You jumped as your boyfriend stood in the doorway. “Own up to it – you came unprepared. You were being incompetent. Grow up and accept it. Do better next time.”

“Hey,” Sero snapped. “As an orchestra player you’re supposed to listen to what she does. You’re not supposed to question the conductor.”

“Shut up, I wasn’t talking to you,” he glared at you. “Show some backbone. Are you really going to let this third-rate-”

“Katsuki,” you snapped. “Leave Sero out of this. You are in the wrong, not me. And you had better apologize.”

“There’s that fire I love,” he pulled you out of Sero’s arms and into his own. “But you’re a damned fool if you think that conducting was anything but half-assed. I’m saying this because I want it to be good, baby. I’m your concertmaster, not to mention your featured soloist, so you should listen to me.”

“No, you should listen to me. Do not yell at me during rehearsal again,” you snapped back, bristling as you brushed past him, minding the violin case as you passed.

Sero was there at every rehearsal. He watched you conduct, watched you command authority from the podium, and shape the music as Bakugou soloed on the violin. Bakugou seemed to be playing within the lines, and jabbered at you to do it his way whenever he could. After every rehearsal you looked tired and defeated, and Sero usually took you to get boba while Kirishima lectured Bakugou about proper rehearsal etiquette. This happened every day for the two weeks leading up to the concert, until the night of the dress rehearsal he snapped. You had already run through your rehearsal of Voi Che Sapete, and Sero could not have been prouder as you sauntered off the stage. God, he loved you. Even watching you from the back of the orchestra, he was blown away from your stage presence. The sweater you wore laced up at the back with a bow resting at the swell of your ass. He might have been staring at it for a little too long, but he didn’t mind having an extra mallet.

As you stepped up to the podium, he admired the way your ripped jeans hugged your figure, and then how you adjusted yourself. You raised your hands, took a breath, and began to conduct. Bakugou stood up from his chair for his solo, and started out a bar early. He kept going, glaring defiantly at you as you continued the piece. Some of the musicians caught up with Bakugou, others stayed with you. You cut the orchestra off. “Let’s start again from bar-”

“If you’re going to cue me wrong,” Bakugou hissed. “You shouldn’t even be on that podium.”

You looked back at him coldly. “I hadn’t cued you yet, Katsuki. If the concert were not tomorrow, I would have hired another soloist. If this were a professional concert, you would have been fired by now,”

“Oh really?” He snapped. “Well, if this were a professional concert, then they wouldn’t have hired a pathetic amateur like you! And you know what, fuck you! We’re done. If you can’t keep our relationship out of this, I don’t want a relationship anymore.” He packed up his violin and left. “I’ll see you all tomorrow at the concert.”

You remained composed, but Sero knew you well enough that he could read the emotions boiling within you like a book. You cleared your throat. “Alright. I would like to go over bars-”

Your composure broke as soon as you and Sero were back at his place. You had planned on spending the night at your boyfriend’s, and he was supposed to be your lift, so you were stranded on campus. At least you had your concert clothes and makeup bag, and of course your best friend here to comfort you. You sobbed into your hands, body shaking as Sero watched you ugly crying. A pizza with your favourite toppings and a bubble tea sat untouched in front of you as he rubbed your back. How were you so beautiful even wailing in anguish and huffing with sobs that shook your whole body?

You threw your arms around him and sobbed into his shoulder as he got close enough, holding him tightly as he stroked your hair. “It’s okay, mi media naranja,” he spoke softly into your hair, savouring the smell of marigolds once more. “Let it out. I’m here.”

He hummed softly to you as you slowly began to stop crying, and then you were just lying pliant in his arms, fingers playing with the beaded necklace he had worn today. “Hey,” he spoke. “Can I get you anything? Water? Doritos? Craigslist ad for a hitman?”

You laughed at that. “Edibles?” you replied.

He hesitated. You had never done any drugs with him before (or at all, as far as he knew), so seeing you blinking up at him asking for his weed he was ashamed to admit he was sort of turned on and excited that you wanted to share some with him. Mostly excited. Yeah.

“Pick something that’ll wear off by morning. I don’t want to do the concert high,” you told him.

He went to his stash of candy and retrieved some of his gummies. He picked out a package of lemon ginger and blueberry acai gummies and walked back over to you. He handed you both packets while he went back to the kitchen to get some beer for you, and when he came back you had eaten one gummy out of each packet.

“¡Pucha! You’re only supposed to have one the first time and see how you feel,” he sat beside you. “Eat some food and we’ll watch a movie.”

You reached for a slice of pizza and cuddled up into him. He put an arm around you as he popped his own gummies, and the two of you ate pizza. “What did I do to deserve such a shitty man?” you sighed. “I – I just don’t know anymore.” You snuggled into his chest, finishing the crust of your pizza and sipping on your boba. You looked up at him, fresh tears brimming your eyes. You wiped at them harshly as you set your drink back down “I’m lucky to have you, Sero. I really am.”

He leaned down and before he could stop himself he was kissing you, one hand coming up to cup your face in his palm. You didn’t pull away, and when he did you were staring at him with wide eyes.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” he mentally cursed himself out as you processed the kiss. “I’m sorry mi media naranja. I just-” you reached up and kissed him back, soft and timid and sweet. You tasted like pizza and brown sugar and as he pulled you into his lap everything in the world made sense to him. Your kisses grew more and more desperate, and he responded in kind, running his hands along your thighs as he helped you straddle him, your fingers dipping under the black fabric of his hoodie.

This was so wrong. You were holding his hands now, and each zinging kiss sent electric shocks zooming through his body. This was wrong – you were still grieving your relationship for Christ’s sake – but as you wrapped your arms around him and pulled away just the slightest bit – enough so you were panting against him and he could see your kiss-swollen lips – he was addicted. For him, there was just no going back.

You kept kissing him as you squirmed in his lap, and he wanted to pull away and tell you that if you kept that up, he wasn’t going to be able to hold himself back. As you finally chucked off your pants and underwear, he realized you had absolutely no intention of holding back. No intention of stopping. Your hands found his belt as you went back to kissing him, and he squeezed your ass with one hand while his fingers toyed with your slit. He felt a burst of pride as he felt how wet you were, and as you fished his cock out you spent only a few moments stroking it before you were guiding it inside of you.

He hissed at the sensation, shivering as you wrapped your arms around him and tugged on his hair. You began to move your hips, sighing against him as he deepened your kisses. He hadn’t wanted this to be your first time. He’d always imagined wining and dining you, sweeping you off of your feet and carrying you to bed where he would ravish you completely, but as you mouthed at his neck and held him tightly, nothing had ever felt more perfect.

“God, who could ever stand to lose you?” he asked out loud, running his fingers through your hair. “I think I’d die of sadness.”

He kissed you as you tried to respond, not sure he could stomach a rejection yet. You continued to ride him, still slow and unhurried as you just enjoyed his warmth. The intimacy. He held you like you were all that was precious to him, and as you began to slowly speed up, you felt him bucking into you. He kissed you again to stop himself from saying he loved you out loud, relishing the feeling of your fingers sneaking under his hoodie and shirt to trace along the lines of his body.

Your heavy breathing and quiet noises filled his senses, along with the sweet smell of marigolds and the feeling of euphoria your every touch brought him. “H-Hanta,” you spoke breathlessly against his lips, and his heart skipped a beat. You wrapped your arms around him once again, this time with your skin against his skin. “Hanta please.” You looked up at him with pleading eyes and he pulled you into another kiss, one hand finding your clit while the other sat on your hip, helping you ride him.

Your phone started to ring then, and the two of you ignored it as you lost yourselves. The edibles were kicking in now, leaving everything hazy and distant and a little foggy as you tangled your tongue with his. “Feels so good,” you whined a tiny bit as you said that, and the breathy need in your voice made sparks dance around his abdomen. The phone rang again, and he ignored it still as he trailed the arm up away from your hip and pulled your body flush to his. Chest to chest, he continued to play with you and hold you close and listen to your little sounds.

He let a few of his own slip as he enjoyed you, and if he had had any less composure he would have been drooling. He braced your legs against his body and clumsily rolled the two of you over so he was between your legs now, and you were under him. You pulled your arms out of his hoodie to brace yourself, but after a moment your arms and legs were wrapped around him and he was in absolute heaven. He started mumbling to you in Spanish, confessing every little dirty thing he wanted to do to you. He told you that you were beautiful and talented and that he loved you. He told you that Bakugou was the world’s biggest idiot. He also told you nasty words about how perfectly your cunt squeezed him, and as you tugged his hair he almost wondered if you understood.

“I’m gonna cum soon,” he mumbled. “Are you close?”

You nodded, locking your ankles behind his back as you once more pulled him into a kiss. That message was clear enough, he thought as he returned a hand to your clit, the other bracing himself against the couch as he held back his orgasm with everything he had.

“Mi media naranja,” he cooed, kissing you between his words. “My better half. My other half. My-” he lost his words as he watched you fall apart for him, rendered speechless by the heart-stopping moans you were letting out – so quiet but so filled with passion – and the faces you were making as your back arched and you began to throb around him. A few more strokes and he was joining you in bliss, the feeling warm and tingly as it spread throughout his body. He struggled to breathe for a few seconds as you pulled him into another kiss, deep and desperate and perfect. He lay on you for a few moments, basking in the afterglow as he rested his forehead against yours and breathed against you, giving you the occasional kisses.

Post nut clarity began to settle in as he pulled himself out of you, but as you shyly smiled up at him, he wrapped you in his arms and gave you another kiss. The phone rang a third time, and this time both of you saw the caller ID.

Of course it was him. Bakugou knew just how to ruin the moment.

Sero pressed decline as you stood and stretched, the muscles in your shoulders tense and his spunk sliding down your thighs. He had to physically restrain himself from scooping you up and carrying you to bed (and only partially because he didn’t have nearly the balance he did when he was sober). “I’m gonna have a shower,” you said awkwardly, pointing.

“Okay,” he agreed.

“Then can we cuddle?” you looked so shy as you asked that, wringing your hands. “I feel safe when I’m in your arms.”

His heart was about to win the gold medal for freestyle gymnastics if you kept that cute look on your face. He broke out into one of his trademark grins. “Mind if I join you?” he asked coyly.

You held out your hand to him, and he stood up as he accepted it. He gave you a lingering kiss you leaned into, and then tried to lead you to the bathroom, but as his pants fell down, he turned and faceplanted. Your laugh had never sounded so sweet before.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You and Sero arrived about an hour before the concert started. You were dressed in a set of tails with your makeup done (he had watched you do it in amazement, and had just about asked you to do eyeliner on him), and as you got adjusted and warmed up (both vocally and physically), he was once again mesmerised.

You chatted with some of the other classical singers as you waited for the orchestra to arrive, and as Sero left to go warm up he found himself so incredibly reluctant to do so. He had woken up with you in his arms, and if he had to go a day without that ever again, he was sure he was going to die.

Bakugou arrived his usual thirty minutes before the concert, and you ignored him as you and the main conductor went over notes from the previous rehearsal. The hotheaded blond sauntered up to you and waited to be noticed, and he only grew more and more irritated as you ignored him. The conductor left you alone and you finally turned to face Bakugou.

“Hey,” he spoke gruffly. “You didn’t answer any of my calls.”

“I didn’t have a reason to,” you replied, calm and collected.

“I’m sorry,” he sighed. “Look, you were right. I’ve been an asshole. I’ve been in the wrong, and I’m sorry. Now come here and give me a hug.” He opened his arms for you.

“No,” you answered flatly.

“What do you mean no?” Bakugou snapped.

“As for your solo, you will play it the way I want you to. I am the conductor. As for our relationship, you made it clear we no longer have one, which based on the way that you’ve been acting lately sounds like the best option to me,” you answered. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a show to conduct.”

“That’s it?” Bakugou hissed. “You’re just going to walk away from us like that?”

“You were the one who walked away,” you smiled over at him. “But that doesn’t matter anymore. Like you said, if you can’t keep our relationship out of this, I don’t want a relationship at all.” You looked so damned powerful in your tails as you faced the blond down. Did he even know those were his own words? “Break a leg, Bakugou.” Sero felt his heart swell with pride.

The concert started and Sero was absolutely transfixed as you stepped up to the podium. You commanded such authority in front of the crowd, deadly calm and ready to emote. It was no small wonder why you had been chosen to conduct this piece – a switch had been flipped in you, and you carried yourself like a conductor.

Bakugou waited patiently for his cue. When you made eye contact and gave it to him you didn’t linger. He played the solo exactly the way you wanted it, fingers dancing across his fret board and managing to make the piece almost melancholy. You played with that emotion, bringing out certain sections to highlight Bakugou’s playing. Sero was under your spell as he watched you move, and he smiled as he realized this was where you belonged. You were in your element without a doubt, and he was so, so proud of you.

As the piece finished you once more held all of the energy in the room within yourself, and only once you relaxed did thunderous applause fill the hall. You took your bow with a smile, and if Sero didn’t have to play the next piece he would have chased you down backstage and kissed you stupid.

Despite loving the music, he couldn’t wait to be done. Just a few mote pieces until the concert ended, and next up was you. Your character was totally different as you stepped out, no longer that powerful conductor he had seen before. Now you were Cherubino, the young man curious about love. The music swelled as you described the sensations flowing through you, and Sero wanted to call out “Yes!” as you asked if they were love.

You finished the piece with a smile, and the crowd once more erupted into applause.

Now Sero definitely needed to find you backstage. You took your bow and made your exit, and the next time he saw you, you were receiving flowers as a thank you for being a soloist. Bakugou held his own bouquet awkwardly in one arm, his violin in the other hand, but Sero could not have cared less about him as he abandoned his mallets to meet you backstage. “You were amazing, Cariño!” he declared, picking you up and spinning you around. He set you down and the two of you hugged.

“You weren’t so bad yourself,” you smiled at him and pulled away. Bakugou glared at him over your shoulder, and he grinned as he flipped the blond off behind your back. “So, are you hungry?” you asked sweetly, and the sweet scent of marigolds surrounded him once more. Your bouquet was made up of them, and when you got home he was going to insist you press them. You leaned in close and whispered “We can skip out on the cast party and go right to bed if you want.”

Sero had to physically stop himself from proposing on the spot.

#sero hanta x reader #sero hanta #bakugou x reader #bakugou katsuki #violinist bakugou #bnha #mha #breakup #drug use #sero smut #memeadonna

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free-pancakes · 3 years

Text

Kiss the Drummer

Summary: a LeviHan Jazz!AU

Levi, a talented trumpet player famous in the jazz clubs of New York, is struggling with his instrument and feels burnt out—he wonders if he chose the right path in life.

The bassist of his quintet, an old friend named Erwin, invites a quirky new drummer to play with them, who brings a new spark into Levi’s life.

Notes: Drum "chops” describe a drummer's technical ability, including a large vocabulary of licks, and how freely they express themselves on the instrument. BPM = beats per minute Songs: Giant Steps - John Coltrane

sorry this AU fic is pure self-indulgence and has become much longer than originally intended lol

crossposted to AO3

CHAPTER 1

He licked his lips and pushed them readily against the smooth, silver mouthpiece, ready to hit the first note of the song, Giant Steps. He suppressed his desire to grumble at yet another fast swing tune.

He stared out into the audience, peering at the people sitting around the tables of the club. Their faces were slightly lit from the reflection of the stage lights, wearing expressions of both excitement and anticipation. “Just another night of the same old thing,” Levi thought to himself, letting out a soft, exasperated sigh, one only he could hear. His stance conveyed confidence, but his eyes spelled apathy.

He heard snaps on 2 and 4 marking their starting tempo at 289 bpm and Levi quickly puffed warm air into his trumpet.

“One… two… one two three four—“

——

Levi wiped down his trumpet, carefully cleaning the beautiful brass after yet another great performance. He gently placed it in his case, and looked up at himself in the dressing room mirror. He stared blankly at his reflection, noting the tinge of purple beneath his eyes—he knew his body was aching for sleep. It had been restless upon restless night for the past year or so, and he wasn’t completely sure why. He looked down at his trumpet case with both affection and disdain. Maybe... he just wasn’t meant to do this for this long.

He didn’t hate playing, but the truth was, he had simply been good at it all of his life. Quite gifted at it, one would say, and thus he passively let it lead him to success. It was just what it was. He was good at jazz, he was good at trumpet. Naturally he studied it at a top university for jazz performance and joined this famous quintet, and naturally he worked hard to improve his skills. But as any routine would, practice and rehearsals became monotonous, grunt work.

While lost in thought, his eyes trailed over to his small, neat pile of math textbooks at the edge of the dresser.

If anything, he did enjoy jazz theory. It was just math, anyway—circle of fifths, cadence patterns, fancy scales—it all just added up and broke down for any message or feeling you wanted to convey with a melody for your solo, and those tools were simply available in your brain to make it happen—tools to play some straight dirty solos that make you smirk satisfactorily when listening. To Levi, it just made sense, to a lot of other people, he was called “genius”. But after years and years of this, he was burning out and he was quite aware of that. He felt like he was losing his edge, and he was just a machine clunking out music most nights of the week. Again he thought, maybe he just wasn’t meant to do this forever. But what else would pay the bills?

Shaking his head, he let his jumbled thoughts fall away momentarily. He picked up a textbook, and leafed through the pages. He clicked open a ballpoint pen and began adding to his lesson plan for one of his students, a young girl named Sasha. Honestly, she seemed utterly hopeless with math at times, but he was determined to help her at least pass her algebra class. Her little friend Connie on the other hand…well that’s a story for another day, he thought, and chuckled softly to himself. If anything, he did enjoy his side job as a math tutor for the local school system. He didn’t really need the extra pocket money, but something compelled him to keep up with it.

As he jotted down notes, muffled noise of cheering and commotion rocked against the door. Tonight’s gig was Nile’s last performance with them, as he was moving out to the west coast to play with another group and accept a teaching position somewhere out there. Levi didn’t care much for his drumming or his personality for that matter, so he wasn’t particularly sad to see him go, nor was he keen on joining the celebration out in the bar. He yawned and continued finish up writing his lesson plan, as he knew he’d probably have to drive his drunk colleagues home.

——

“Levi! I’m gonna miss you buddy!” Nile exclaimed as he aggressively ruffled Levi’s hair, causing the cowlick he spent every morning trying to gel down to stick straight up embarrassingly at the top of his head. “Yeah, yeah, yeah… good luck Nile.” He shoved him and Mike into a cab, as they lived in the same apartment complex. He turned back into the bar to Erwin smiling drunkenly and Nanaba knocked out cold, sleeping soundly as she sat with her head down on a table. Levi grumbled and picked up Nanaba’s saxophone case to haul into the trunk of his car. He returned to pick up Nanaba and carried her on his back, and Erwin walked with them to Levi’s car.

“Hey Levi, Our new drummer is flying in tomorrow. I told her I’d come and pick her up from the airport at 7am.”

Levi looked Erwin up and down with a look of disgust. “In that sorry state, Eyebrows? Tch, go sleep off the hangover tonight, I can go to the airport. What’s her name and what does she look like?”

“Her name’s Hange. She has messy brown hair usually worn up in a ponytail, wears tortoise clubmaster glasses and well… honestly you can’t miss her, I’m sure you’ll find her right away.”

“Okay. So why’d we need to bring in a completely new drummer anyway? Couldn’t we have just brought in Moblit?”

“Ah you know his style doesn’t fit ours as well, plus he’s doing well with his band right now. Don’t worry, Hange and I played together all 4 years of college together, she’s got chops. Plus, I think Hange will probably bring in the change we need. Your playing’s gone a bit stale... hasn’t it, Levi?”

“Stale?! Pfft you’re just drunk,” Levi muttered, irritated as Erwin raised his eyebrows at him. They arrived at their apartment complex and Levi begrudgingly unlocked the car doors, gently woke Nanaba, and the three of them walked up to their floor. Erwin fumbled with his keys, and Levi snatched it out of his hands, frustrated at how long it was taking him. Erwin chuckled, and Levi scrunched up his nose at the stench of alcohol in his breath. As soon as the door opened, Nanaba immediately ran to the bathroom, retching into the toilet.

“I got her,” Erwin laughed. “Go to bed, Levi, you’re the one getting up early. Flight info’s next to the door.”

Levi nodded, turned into his room, and plopped down on the bed. He stared at the ceiling, and wondered how much longer he’d keep playing, or more like, how soon he’d quit. If this Hange person was as annoying as Nile, well… he probably wouldn’t hold out much longer.

——

Levi stood with his hands in his pockets, eyes peeled for this Hange person. He looked at his watch—“Maybe she was still waiting on her luggage,” he thought. He walked over to the small cafe to his left, and waited in line, squinting for any decent teas on the menu. Before he could decide, he suddenly heard a small yelp, and something shoved right into his chest, feeling piping hot coffee running down his white, longsleeve shirt. Before he could yell obscenities at the moron who just ruined one of his favorite shirts, he was met with frantic apologizes.

“I’m so so sorry! Oh my goodness it was a complete accident, can I get you a drink to make up for it? Man I am so clumsy...oh! Maybe you can wear one of my shirts I have here, free of charge! Or I could just—“

He looked up in the middle of incessant rambling to see the culprit—a tall brunette, hair messily tied up in a bun, wearing tortoise clubmaster glasses, and a bright yellow coat.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Levi thought to himself. He looked down to see a large black cymbal case and a stick bag with yarn mallets and drumsticks poking out of it.

—I could just buy you a new shirt! Oh, how bout—“

Levi was livid—this clown was potentially going to be playing gigs with them over the next year? The coffee stained fabric was sticking uncomfortably to his skin and he felt the biggest headache coming on—all this pain just from one person. He reached up and gently placed his hand over her mouth to physically stop her chattering.

“Is your name, Hange?”

She nodded, Levi’s hand still covering her mouth.

“You’re Erwin’s friend?”

She nodded again, her eyes lighting up at the name, Levi feeling her lips forming a smile under his palm.

“Okay, I’m taking you back to our apartment.”

Levi reached for her bags to carry them, but was interrupted.

“Wait—the least I can do is give you the extra shirt I have in my backpack so you can change out of your soiled one,” she said softly. She reached in her bag, and pulled out the shirt and Levi felt his eye twitch in annoyance at the words printed on its front. He sighed, and debated sitting in his wet shirt, but it seemed like he didn’t have much choice—he’d have to wear it.

——

Levi blinked his eyes open. He felt oddly rested, but one thing was strange—he was sitting up, and he felt something unusually heavy on his shoulder.

“What the—“

He looked to the side and saw a mess of brown hair immediately to his right, heard the soft sound of snoring, and felt… something wet on his arm? He looked down and grimaced. “Drool. She’s drooling. On my goddamn arm.”

He looked around for some kind of napkin. He didn’t remember falling asleep, let alone letting this absolute stranger curl up against him. How in the world did he let his guard down this far?

He stared blankly at Hange and thought, “What a mess—what was Erwin thinking? We’ve known each other for less than 5 hours, and she seems to have already made herself right at home. I haven’t even confirmed whether she was good enough to play with us, yet.” He tried to shift out from underneath Hange, but before he could wriggle is way out—

“Kiss the drummer?”

Erwin and Nanaba stood before Levi, both with hair in a complete mess, having just woken up from sleeping off their hangovers. Smirking and holding back laughter, they stared at the scene—Levi wearing an oversized t-shirt with the words “Kiss the Drummer” in bold letters plastered across his chest, along with Hange sleeping quite cozily on his shoulder, her glasses held gently between his fingers. Levi tried covering up the words and scowled at his two friends.

“Laugh it up,” he muttered. “What is this, Erwin? She’s clearly made herself at home already—and we haven’t even gotten to play together yet.”

“Relax, Levi, she’s a great musician. And look, she likes you!”

Levi grimaced at Hange draped over his shoulder.

“Hmph, I still have to hear her play and have my opinion considered. We all get a vote yknow…”

Over their hushed voices, Hange shifted groggily towards all of them and rubbed her eyes. “Erwin?”

Hange’s eyes lit up immediately in recognition, shoving Levi back further into the couch as she jumped up to wrap Erwin in her embrace, excited to finally be reunited with her friend after so many years.

After a few minutes of catching up, Erwin smiled brightly. “Yes, we can take you around the city a bit. Rehearsal’s not til this evening anyway—we did have a gig lined up last minute for the middle of this week if you were comfortable with that, Hange.”

“Of course I’d be down to do that! I—“

“Oi. Like I said, we still vote if you get to play with our group officially. Don’t be late to rehearsal tonight.” Levi then slowly stood up and walked quietly towards his room.

“Don’t mind him, he’s just being strict about our technical audition policy,’ Erwin reassured. He and Nanaba quickly darted for their rooms to ready themselves to take Hange sightseeing for a little while and introduce her to the city, leaving her standing alone in the middle of their living room. Her eyes trailed after Levi, curious about his calm yet sad energy. She felt that she saw through that aura, noticing every little kind gesture he made towards her from the time they met at the airport to the moment they fell asleep on the couch. Hange was determined to get him to show that side of himself a little more. As he turned to grab the door behind him, she smiled at him, and was quickly met with a scowl and the slam of his bedroom door in her face. Seemed it might take some more effort to get through to him than she originally thought.

#levihan #levihan fanfiction #levihan fanfic #levi ackerman #hange zoe #hanji zoe #lol idk what this but here ya go #inspired by the movie Soul and because i miss playing drums

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elleonmybeloved · 4 years

Text

The weather on the day of the competition was perfect, nary a cloud in the sky and a warm fresh smelling breeze blew throughout the city of Mondstadt. Everybody was gathered around the archon statue, in front of which a raised wooden platform has been placed as a makeshift stage. The person in charge of the event is just a person who owns an instrument shop in the city, but the real weight behind regulating the event is the group of knights of Favonius that stand guard in the area and enforce safety as well as the rules of the proceedings. There’s no panel of judges. It’s the audience who chooses the winner by writing the name of the bard who gave their favorite performance and placing it inside a wooden box to be counted by the host.

“Ooh, Paimon can’t wait! When are they gonna start already?” Lumine’s floating companion gives an impatient wiggle. “Oh wait, look, here comes the host now!”

The host steps up on the stage, and after a minute the swelling chatter from the crowd dies down to a murmur.

“Greetings citizens of Mondstadt, and welcome to another battle of the bards! It is my pleasure to announce that we will be treated to fifteen performances today. Each contestant will be performing two songs, one preexisting song of their choice, and one of their own. After they have all given their performances, you, the audience, may cast your vote for whoever most greatly moved your heart with their music.” He gives a break for applause.

“May the anemo archon watch over us all! Let the contest begin!” The host steps down off the stage and the first bard takes his place.

One performance after another, the city fills with music. Some chose upbeat, joyous melodies, others slow and mellow ballads, and even some that take a jazzy tune and encourage clapping and dancing from the audience. Lumine is amused to witness what she guesses is a bard commissioned by Stanley to make a song about him and his famous adventures.

By the end of that song, she and the crowd have already memorized the repetitive words and are joining in to shout-sing the great adventurer’s name.

“Good for him, I guess.”

“Paimon thought this was supposed to be emotionally moving music! Geez.”

“They never specified which emotion.” Lumine points out, but before Paimon can quip back, a hush falls over the crowd again as the next bard comes up.

The lanky teen in bright teal that takes the stage is surely Venti, but his prescence feels so different from what she’s used to. Lumine swallows dryly. He’s the one on stage about to perform, so why is she the one feeling nervous all of a sudden?

Venti begins with the first song- Lion Heart, the one about Venessa, the great hero of Mondstadt. The melody flows like the wind but the sound grows and flares like a fire in a grand way that makes her feel as if she herself has been transported back in time and is standing in the middle of a raging war. His voice is strong and unwavering as he effortlessly tackles difficult notes, and his lyre sounds more like the herald of a trumpet than some little church house harp.

When it’s over, the audience whistles and calls out loudly with applause. The man next to her is exclaiming that he has “-Not heard that classic song so masterfully done in decades!” And Lumine has to agree with the sentiment. He could end it right now and still be the one to go home with the prize.

“Oh wooow, who knew the tone-deaf bard could do that! And to think, Paimon didn’t believe him when he said singing was the only thing he did well.”

“Yeah.” She says, squinting at the stage. Venti is setting down his lyre and is taking... something, up to the stage. It looks a bit like a lute, but it’s curved in swirling angles and with it there’s a... straight bow? Nobody else seems puzzled by this, so she figures it’s an instrument native to Teyvat.

He gets into position and Lumine’s heart begins to pound in her chest. Here it comes!

It starts with a deep, resounding hum in a minor key, tamely going above and below the starting note of the chord. The instrument makes a beautifully layered, rich sound that supports the higher and lighter tone of his voice in such a nice way that she instantly understand why he chose to use this instead of his lyre. The melody begins mysterious, and she strains her ears to make out every word.

Venti tells the tale of a forest, ruled by a bird king, a white dove. His voice flutters like the flapping of wings.

The bird king loves his forest, but invaders keep coming in and threatening it. The kings friend, the lizard, drives off the invaders, but the venom of his attack drips to the ground and poisons the forest, causing all the plants to slowly wither and die. The bird king tries everything, but cannot cure the poison, and resigns himself to die with his beloved forest instead of abandoning it, and becomes poisoned as well.

The deep thrum of the stringed instrument waxes somber.

Then, a star falls from the sky, crashing into his forest with a great flash. To the bird king’s surprise, out from the crash site flows light that purifies the poison in the forest, eventually even himself, and the great lizard. He goes to thank the star, but encounters instead a lake of tears and ash.

The bird king asks the fallen star why it laments so. The star says she has lost her ability to fly, and cannot rejoin her friends that soar the heavens. Not being able to fly sounds like the most painful fate the bird king has ever heard, and his heart is moved to help the fallen star.

Lumine recognizes a theme that resembles her song in this part, and then the instrument and Venti’s voice swirl up to a new sound.

The bird king plucks a feather from his own wing, and plants it in the now purified ground. A flower grows, and from it, he plucks a fruit.

He offers the fruit to the fallen star, telling her it is a magical fruit that can restore her power to fly, but it will cause her much pain. She eats the fruit, and is engulfed in a great flame. From the ashes of the fire, she rises, no longer a fallen star, but a phoenix.

The music soars to a climax, shifting from a minor to major key in the last few notes. Then it’s over, and Venti lowers the instrument to take a bow.

The crowd is silent a moment before erupting into applause. Lumine doesn’t know how to feel. She can’t even begin to unpack the meaning of what she just experienced.

Another bard, the next contestant replaces Venti on the stage. Lumine somehow tunes back into the present.

“-and so before I begin my performance I have something to say.” The woman on stage couldn’t be much older than Lumine. There’s something familiar about her. “Unfortunately the song I was about to play has already been played.”

A confused murmur passes through the crowd.

“I got the idea to write a song about a magic forest after being rescued by some adventurers in the Whispering Woods. I worked really ha-“ Her voice breaks on the word. “Worked really hard on it and I was so excited to show it you all today. But I can’t, because he,”

She is lifting a finger at Venti. “Stole my song.”

The host steps forward with an uneasy expression. “That’s quite the accusation. Do you have any proof, Miss...?

“-Solia. Of course I do.” She says, and hands him her notebook. “Here’s where I wrote it. You can even see the drawing I made of the bird who inspired the Bird King.”

“This... does resemble the white cranes in the Whispering Wood.” He admits. Gasps and whispers come from the crowd. Somebody says they always knew Venti was a thief and several others hear that and murmur to each other.

Lumine cannot believe her ears. She can’t see Venti’s expression from here, and she pushes through the crowd to get closer.

“Is what she is saying true, young man? Please be honest.”

Lumine pushes through to the front just as Venti answers him.

“Uheheh, no. If this is meant to be a jest, I’m afraid I must protest.” He just looks really confused. “It’s not that funny.”

“Liar!” Solia cries. “It’s my song!”

Lumine realizes where she’s seen this woman before. Sitting at the base of a windmill, writing in a notebook, a week and a half ago.

“Actually, it’s my song.”

The host looks even more confused as Lumine climbs into the stage and strides over to stand in between Solia and Venti.

“And by that I mean, he wrote it for me while you sat underneath him by the windmill and copied what you heard word for word.”

“Uh, who are you?” Solia is thrown off beat by the exposure, face flushing rapidly. “His -his girlfriend?”

“Enough of this.” The host insists. One of the knights of Favonius is saying something to him. “This young lady is an honorary knight, appointed by Acting Grand Master Jean herself. Miss Solia, if you don’t intend to play your songs, please exit the stage.”

“Huh? But-“ Solia splutters through several half formed protests, but the knight steps towards her and she raises her hands. “I-I’m going.”

Lumine turns to Venti. He looks dazed, like he still can’t believe what happened. “Come on Venti.” She grabs his hand and pulls him with her off stage. “Let’s go.”

They’re a block away before she stops. She is still holding his hand.

She’s at a loss for words. “I can’t believe she did that.”

“It’s okay, Lumine.” He’s already soothing her. “I’m not angry! Eheh... but wow, I should’ve been more careful. I hope it didn’t ruin the song for you.”

“No, not at all!” She shakes her head vehemently, clasping both his hands in hers now. “It was really good. I was really moved. You were so good!”

“Hehe. Thanks.” He’s looking at her grip on his hands.

Lumine realizes and drops them like she’s been burned.

Venti retrieves them and presses one against his cheek and rubs against it.

The question she was about to ask sputters out at the bold gesture.

“You’re so cute.” He croons, and tugs her closer to him. His blue eyes shine with mischief and happiness. “Wanna play a game?”

“Play a- uh yeah, okay!”

“Close your eyes. Open em and you lose~!”

The way he is petting her is very distracting. Lumine closes her eyes and hopes she doesn’t look dumb. She can feel his breath on her face. Her heart lurches in anticipation.

“...”

She cracks an eye open, wondering what’s going on.

“Hey! Come on, you didn’t even last ten seconds!” He complains. “I’m good at this but I’m not that fast.”

The long parts of her hair are in his hands, one side half braided. She realizes he is giving her the same style as him.

“Oh sorry.” She says, and closes her eyes at his pointed look. Lumine holds very still. She feels repetitive little tugs at her hair one side, then the other. Is he finished? Feels like it.

“We match.” His voice is very close.

Pressure pulls her head forward by the braids in a gentle motion. And then there’s a swell of warmth as soft lips press firm against hers and a hand presses against the small of her back.

Lumine was sufficiently fooled into not expecting it, and a chorus of butterflies rise in her stomach as Venti pulls back and kisses her again.

Elation fills her at the confirmed prospect of his feelings and her cautiously withheld affection for him breaks free. Lumine presses a hand to the back of Venti’s neck to bring their lips even closer together.

They take turns swapping sweet kisses until they are both breathless and love-drunk. Venti isn’t there to hear himself win first place.

#genshin impact #venti #lumine #venti x traveler #good evening to my fellow venlumi shippers and them only #just kidding lol but anyways may I offer you some cuteness in these trying times?#I did my best with the song don’t drag me please

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dragons-bones · 3 years

Text

FFXIV: A Synthesis of Aether

#FebHyurary Day 17: Food + Day 18: Music

A/N: So I had too many ideas for yesterday, but knew for today touching on Synnove’s aether synesthesia would work well, and then I said, “DT YOU FOOL YOU CAN COMBINE BOTH DAYS FOR HER AETHER SYNESTHESIA.” And lo: a fic! Mostly dialogue, I haven’t done a dialogue heavy ficlet in a loooong time so I feel a bit rusty, but this was a fun exercise!

RATING: T WORD COUNT: 1455 WARNINGS: None!

---

[Installing SCAEVAN SYSTEMICS operating software.]

[Installation successful, running update cycle.]

[Updates complete. Archive Node Unit 453 now online. Please specify primary user.]

“Synnove Greywolfe.”

[USER: SYNNOVE now registered. How may I assist you today?]

“Please stand by for audio recording.”

[Standing by.]

The node’s lights dimmed from bright grass green to soft seafoam as it partially powered down, its northern and southern hemispheres slowly rotating in opposite directions.

Synnove lowered her hand and glanced over at Rereha. “All right, you can babble now,” the Highlander said.

Rere took her hands off her mouth to tug at her braided pigtails and beamed at her. “Whatcha doing?” she said, in the sing-song tone of someone feeling exceptionally nosy, rocking back on her heels.

Synnove rolled her eyes and set her hands on her hips. “Y’shtola’s working on a compilation of aetheric synesthesic perceptions as a downtime project,” she said. “She asked me if I was willing to contribute, to which I obviously said ‘yes.’ But because I’m not often able to spend much time in Revenant’s Toll that doesn’t devolve into Warrior of Light or Ironworks business—”

“—audio recordings you can send or give her are more convenient.”

“Careful, Rere, or other people will begin realizing you’re smarter than you pretend to be.”

The lalafell gasped. “Madam, you wound me!”

She received a satisfied smirk in reply as Synnove added, “And what better way to create an audio recording than with my new archive node?”

Rere pulled herself up onto Synnove’s desk, sitting on the edge and kicking her feet back and forth as she leaned back to rest on her hands. “Did you liberate it from the Ironworks?”

“I purchased this fair and square, I have a bill of sale from Jessie herself.”

“Nero’s OS?”

“The fact you know that term is vaguely frightening, but the man does have an unparalleled understanding of Allagan technology and if you tell him I said that, I will hang you by your toes from the edge of the Steps of Faith.”

Rere mimed locking her lips.

“Hand me that stack of paper, please.” Synnove pointed to Rere’s right. The lalafell snagged it and dutifully handed it over.

The arcanist shuffled through them, humming tunelessly as she did, before she came across the correct page. “All right,” she said, mostly to herself. “Start with Y’shtola’s list of baseline sensations today and go from there.” Louder now: “Begin recording.”

[Audio recording now live.]

Synnove automatically straightened her spine and rolled down her shoulders in the same way she did before she began a lecture for the fourth-year arcanist students. In a clear, strong voice: “Synnove Greywolfe recording for Y’shtola Rhul on the 18th day of the Second Umbral Moon, 11 Year of the Seventh Astral Era, on the subject of synesthetic perceptions of aether. I personally perceive aether, in addition to visual manifestations, as both taste and sound. Occasionally, one sensation will dominate the other, and certain sounds and tastes aren’t exclusive to one elemental type.

“For this recording, I’ll describe the overall generalities I associate with different elemental aether; variance is high depending on factors such as location or origin, in terms of ambient or crystallized aether, or in the case of spells, if they are being performed correctly or are altered in some capacity.”

“How to spot the catastrophic boom just before the boom becomes catastrophic and it’s too late to do anything about it.”

Synnove sighed. Rere giggled.

“Y’sthola, remind me to recalculate the angle needed to ensure Rere lands in Silvertear if thrown from the highest tower in the Toll.”

“Hey!”

“You’d be fine, Hydaelyn likes you best.”

Rere pouted, lower lip pushed out to the point of exaggeration, which meant she wasn’t actually offended.

“To get back on topic: fire. Fire aether most frequently tastes like hot spices, such as peppers; coffee; red meat, such as buffalo; bitter chocolate; cherries; wine. Sound tends to be uniformly brass instruments such as horns and trumpets; very occasionally it can sound like metal striking metal.

“Earth aether is auditorily simple and gustatorily complex. The sound of earth is always rhythmic and steady, if not outright drumming; the sensation of it echoing follows fairly often, too. Taste runs a huge gamut: savory or sweet seasonings, such as cumin or cinnamon; white meat, such as pork; most vegetables, particularly green or starchy vegetables; certain fruits such as apples and figs; bread; cheeses; stews; whiskeys.”

“I’d call most of those foods ‘homey.’”

Synnove frowned thoughtfully. “That’s a fair assessment,” she said after a moment. “Earth aether tends to ‘taste’ comforting.”

“Does that mean Tyr is the ultimate comfort food?”

“Does that mean you want to go flying out of my office window into the harbor?”

“I’m going to shut up now!”

“See how long that lasts,” Synnove said under her breath while her sister smiled beatifically. “Where was I… Ah, wind.”

The Highlander frowned. “Wind aether is another oddity, taste-wise. Mint tends to present quite frequently, along with sweet chocolate, white grapes, vanilla, white wine, arak, olives, and scallions. Thankfully when it seems to be a combination of flavors, it’s complimentary…” She shook her head. “Sound is similar to flutes, chimes, whistles. Bit stereotypical, honestly.

“Lightning…” Synnove paused, frowning again. “Sound tends to be similar to specific string instruments such as violas and cellos; deeper sounds. Low notes on a piano or harpsichord, sometimes simple humming or vibrations. Taste does not tend to be strong, but most frequently has manifested as berries and/or stonefruits. Alcohols such as gin, palm wine, ouzo, and brandy.”

“That is not the element I’d consider boozy,” Rere said idly. She had lain back on the desk and was staring up at the huge arched ceiling of the tower office, twiddling her thumbs.

Synnove shrugged without further comment, already looking at the next item on the list Krile had transcribed on Y’shtola’s behalf. “Water is what one would think would be boozy but I have legitimately never tasted ‘boozy’ water aether before. Tropical fruits dominate; in terms of savory, as horrifically stereotypical as it is, seafood. But almost never in a way that makes sense, I once found a water cluster in a bluefin tuna’s belly that tasted like Coerthan oyster confit.”

“I remember that, you made the weirdest face.”

“I still can’t find the words to describe just how fucked up that taste versus visual dichotomy was. In any event, water aether also sounds like string instruments, mostly harps, dulcimers, and brighter pianos. Also, a very specific drum… Rere, what’s that staccato-sounding drum the Flames have been using in their parades of late?”

The lalafell picked her head up. “Snare drum?”

“That’s the one. Timpanis on occasion, too. And finally…ice. Sound leans towards woodwind instruments like the clarinet and piccolo, as well as bells. Any bell. Taste…hmm. Slaw, fruits that freezes well, fruit juices, Thavnairian sweet tea—”

“That is not tea, that is an abomination.”

“—some melons, cucumbers, white rum, wintergreen.”

“I still can’t believe you’ve never come across ice aether that tastes like the Bismarck’s root beer float.”

“They introduced it to the menu last year.”

“So?”

Synnove sighed that heavy, gusting sigh everyone who spent longer than thirty minutes with Rereha learned. “Y’shtola, I see a note here about Primordial Light and Dark, but I’ll do that in the next recording along with variations and discrepancies, as first, I need to beat my sister over the head with a grimoire—”

Rereha hopped down from the desk and ran for the office door, shouting BYE Y’SHTOLA I LOVE YOU BEST over her shoulder as she did.

“—and second, I’m hungry and now is a good time to break for lunch. Recording end.”

[End of recording. Is there anything else on which I may provide assistance?]

“No, that will be all for now—ah! Before I forget. Please create new nodal designation of own choice.”

[Clarification requested.]

“Pick a name for yourself.”

[…]

[Accessing imperial Allagan databases for repository of birth certificates. Scanning records.]

[Archive Node Unit 453 rename complete. Archive Node Unit 453 is now Kleio.]

Synnove smiled, pleased. “It’s nice to meet you, Kleio.”

[…Thank you. Database scans are currently inconclusive as relates to instruments in modern usage versus those of Allag. What samples are available to provide edification?]

The Highlander cocked her head, staring at the silver-and-green node for a few long moments, before another smile, this one slow and delighted, crossed her features. “I have a few orchestrion rolls that include solos and chamber music that you could listen to while I have lunch, and I can provide lists of which instruments are used in each piece.”

[That would be satisfactory.]

“Perfect! Let’s get you set up…”

#febhyurary #final fantasy xiv #ffxiv #oc: synnove greywolfe #oc: rereha reha #oc: kleio the archive node #dt's writing

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imagineclaireandjamie · 4 years

Note

I’m in desperate need of some Tagalong escapism. A happy family moment would be just the ticket. 🙏

anonymous asked: Has Tagalong Roger discovered his talent for music and singing yet? Imagine Jamie and Claire et al. realising Roger can sing like a thrush 😄

Tagalong One Shot #3

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven, Part Twelve, Part Thirteen, Part Fourteen, Part Fifteen, Part Sixteen, Part Seventeen, Part Eighteen, Part Nineteen, Part Twenty, Part Twenty-One, Part Twenty-Two, Part Twenty-Three, Epilogue; One Shot #1; One Shot #2

******************************************

It began as a sort of game between Roger and Fergus when no one was around, a way to deal with Roger’s homesickness, especially in those first months. What things from their lives in the future did they miss the most? Football. Bicycles. Their friends from school. Going to the cinema. Listening to the radio.

Playing in the woods when their chores allowed, Roger would imitate the broadcasters or recall commercial jingles with a clarity that had Fergus doubling over with laughter.

But the underlying sadness was more than Fergus could help his friend with alone. So he volunteered them to help Claire on one of her gathering trips in the woods. When it was just the three of them, Fergus began the game and Claire joined in.

She had spent far more time in the future. Like Roger, she was of the future in a way neither he nor Brianna were (young as she was, she had already lost her memories of where and when she was born).

When the game petered out, they continued their scavenging quietly. At least, until Roger recognized the song Claire was humming and began to sing along.

He was a famous trumpet man from out Chicago way...

Fergus recognized the tune but couldn’t remember the words and certainly wouldn’t have sounded as good as Roger did.

Claire joined Roger, grinning along and dancing a little making both boys laugh.

When they’d finished the song, Claire complimented Roger on his singing and asked if he’d picked up any of the songs Mrs. Crook knew (she always sang quietly as she went about the kitchen, though she wasn’t particularly good).

Roger hadn’t but the seed was planted and Roger had a new hobby.

******************************************

“He has a surprise for us,” Claire informed Jamie as she tidied him up. There were dried leaves in his hair which needed to be trimmed or the dun bonnet would be useless for covering the distinctive hair of Red Jamie.

“And do ye have any idea of what his surprise may be?” Jamie asked. He winced as Willie gnawed on one of his fingers.

“Hold still,” Claire scolded, smiling behind Jamie’s back as their three-month-old son gurgled in his father’s lap. She knew how much it meant to Jamie to have been there for Willie from the beginning (how bittersweet that Brianna couldn’t remember being without him). It was also a minor miracle that Jenny had goaded him into giving up the cave for the priest hole while winter bore down on them.

And it would take another for her to convince Jamie it was safe enough for him to make an appearance at the Hogmanay festivities (having been so recently arrived the previous year, they’d kept the day as a family but learned of the tenants’ disappointment soon after). It would mean a great deal to so many for a glimpse of the true laird with his family reunited as the British army continued to raid and terrorize the countryside even three years after the loss at Culloden.

“As a matter of fact, I do know what it is, but telling you would mean ruining the surprise for both of us,” Claire informed Jamie, “And it means too much to Roger for me to do that so you will attend and you will be surprised. And you will enjoy yourself,” she tacked on as an afterthought.

Jamie rolled his eyes at Willin in the mirror. The babe ceased gnawing on Jamie’s finger in order to giggle.

“Alright. Time for you to have a proper wash so we can get the rest of this rat’s nest under control.” Claire took Willie from Jamie, holding him so he could watch as his father sighed and reluctantly stripped and climbed into the lukewarm tub, the chill in the room having quickly sapped the water of its heat.

******************************************

Despite Claire’s assertion, Jamie remained reluctant to risk being seen too publicly.

“I can stay above stairs wi’ Willie and Brianna,” he told Claire. “Have Roger tell ye when for the surprise and I’ll slip down for that bit.”

“If it makes you more comfortable, I believe you can enjoy his surprise from the banister upstairs,” Claire compromised. “I’ll let him know he’ll be able to spot you there.”

So Jamie made sure he was in place as a handful of tenants arrived for the modest festivities (given the universal hardships, the family had decided to rotate who would be invited year to year).

Willie was teething and fussy in Jamie’s arms as he looked around for Roger in the small crowd below. He spotted Fergus first. The lad was helping guide a few men bearing instruments to one side of the hall, ushering folks to clear the space for imminent dancing. Roger was close behind conversing with a man carrying a fiddle.

There was something in Roger’s arms but none of the others took it from him when the group settled in their places, laughing as young couples eagerly gathered ready to dance. Roger ended up shuffled off to the side but still stood with the players.

The largest and oldest of them looked around at the others, nodding as fiddles and flutes were raised. Then he motioned to Roger who began to beat a steady rhythm on his bodhrán. Soon the others joined in and the couples began to clap along and dance.

Jamie couldn’t follow the music itself very well, but he could pick out Roger and that steady bodhrán beat, keeping time for everyone else. At the end of the first piece, Roger glanced up to where Jamie stood at the railing with Willie. Jamie gave him a proud smile and nod, then lifted Willie’s hand in a wave. Willie fidgeted and bounced enthusiastically. He squealed with delight as they began the next piece.

Jamie stood watching through three more songs before carrying Willie off to put him to bed and check on Brianna. Besides, they’d be sending the firstfoot out soon and they’d want him safely tucked away for that.

Claire ushered Roger and Fergus up to bed a short time later, the festivities downstairs winding down.

“You played beautifully,” Claire told Roger, sitting at the edge of his bed and brushing his dark hair away from his eyes.

“Alec Mackinnon said he’d continue to teach me the songs he kens,” Roger said with a tired but somehow still excited yawn. “No just the bodhrán either. Though, it doesna quite feel like Hogmanay wi’out… you know.” He raised his eyebrows at Claire who smiled in a way Jamie recognized too well. She never wanted the children to think she was laughing at them, no matter how amusing the things they said might be.

“You’ve done very well not to say anything about it,” Claire commended him. “But now it’s just us. It should be safe now and, I agree, it doesn’t feel complete without it,” she said with a conspiratorial glance to Jamie and Fergus who were both baffled.

Roger smiled and sat up in bed. Fergus lounged with his head propped up on his hand. Jamie took a seat next to Brianna’s cot where she and Willie slept. They’d take Willie to his cradle when they returned to their own room for the night.

“Softly now,” Claire reminded Roger before nodding for him to start.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot…

Claire dropped off after the first chorus but Roger remembered and sang the second and third verses as well.

“You sing as beautifully as you play,” Claire assured him. “Like a songbird.”

“A smeóraich,” Jamie agreed. When Claire gave him a confused look, he explained, “A thrush.”

“Time for bed, smor– how do you say it again?”

Jamie repeated it for Claire a few more times, eliciting giggles that turned into yawns. She gave up and tucked Roger back in.

******************************************

“The song you and Roger sang earlier… It’s of the future?” Jamie asked as he held Claire in bed a short time later. He’d be back in the priest hole the next day but refused to spend the first night of the new year anywhere but next to Claire.

“Yes and no,” she said with a sigh. “It will come to be associated with celebrating the new year in the twentieth century, but the words will be penned by a great Scots poet in another decade or so.”

“A great Scots poet,” Jamie mused, grinning in the dark.

“Mmmhmm. And it’s not just in Scotland that he’s celebrated or that song that gets sung. It becomes popular the world over… At least, to my knowledge. There’s even a night celebrating his birth that’s a sort of unofficial holiday.”

Jamie scoffed. “Now ye’re teasin’ me, Sassenach.”

She curled into him and nuzzled against his chest. “Not at all,” she yawned. “I’ve been to my share of Burns Night celebrations over the years.”

“Hmmm… Sounds nice,” Jamie murmured as he drifted off to sleep, the words of the song – which he’d had Claire repeat for him slowly – ran through his dreams.

We’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne…

#Anonymous #The tagalong #featuring: fergus #featuring: roger #featuring: bree #one shot #canon divergence au

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twinkleimagines · 3 years

Text

✨This one time at band camp✨

Summary: you and Tom have been band buddies since middle school and have made it to college together. You’re finally ready to confess your love for him when he meets someone else. Is it too late?

⚠️⭕️ ( smut and language included)

“Save me a seat would ya?” Tom yelled out while sticking a dollar in the vending machine right outside the band room.

“ sure thing Tom” you said while picking up your trumpet (you can pick what instrument you want) and Toms , heading out to the bus. “ it’s not like I have anyone else to sit with” you joked before exiting through the double doors outside. Your school was on its way to yours and Toms third year of band camp. It was a two week overnight stay at the camp to get as much practice in for the upcoming football season, but it was also your favorite thing ever because it gave you two weeks straight to be with Tom.

You’ve been in love with that brown eyed boy since freshman year . It felt as if it were meant to be. Your careers were in mostly the same paths, and he was your best friend. Nobody knew you like Tom. But he always had eyes for other people, girls that looked nothing like you. He even said one time that it was ‘ gross’ when someone asked if the two of you were a couple. After that , the idea of telling the truth was a no go.

You plopped down in your seat, grabbing out your tablet for you and Tom to share . You always watched movies together because the bus ride to camp was almost 4 hours long and it gave you an excuse to lay your head on him and fall asleep. You really wanted to tell him this yeah during band camp. You were worried about the friendship status and where it would go if he rejected you, but at the same time you couldn’t handle it anymore. You wanted him to love you more than just a best friend.

“ scoot” Tom said while putting his trumpet under the bus seat. “ did you bring any snacks?” He asked. You nodded unzipping one of the pockets on your duffel bag. Tom grinned real big before reaching in and grabbing him one. “ so what movie are we going to watch this time?” He asked looking over at you. God that sincere smile of his is just so calming. Sometimes you couldn’t believe such a beautiful guy was YOUR best friend.

“ they finally came out with the second amazing spider man” you said excitedly .

“ I saw! Is that what we’re watching?” He beamed. You nodded before grabbing the tablet and putting the movie up.

Most of the ride to camp was silent . Tom was just innocently watching the movie but you couldn’t help but day dream the whole time. Your eyes constantly looking at his hands, up his arms, you’d look at his reflection in the tablet, watching his lips open slightly when an intense scene came on , or when he’d get uncomfortable he’d move around, looking over at you asking if you were okay. “ are you tired?” He whispered. You looked up nodding while yawning. “ well come here” he said pulling you towards him.you snuggled up against his chest , his arm wrapping over your shoulder. You felt him lay his head down on yours, his chest rising up and down as he took steady breaths. Before you knew it you were fast asleep.

“Y/n” you heard faintly . “Y/n” Tom said while slightly shaking your shoulder.

“ huh” you said sitting up some.

“Wake up we’re here” he said before standing up and stretching. You damn near drooled when you saw his shirt lift up, his happy trail showing , veins and abs. When did he get so ripped? You quickly looked away, grabbing your duffel bag before he noticed you staring.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this again for the third time” he beamed excitedly while looking out the window towards the buildings and field.

“ I know and we get to do it together “ you said looking at him, admiring his face, again.

“ well duh” he smirked before grabbing his stuff and walking down the aisle. It took you a minute to get off the bus, struggling to get your bags and instrument off , and by the time you got off Tom was no where in sight . You sighed in frustration. Tom always waits for you so you don’t lose each other. Where could he be?

You sat for a second , looking around before grabbing your phone out calling him.

“ hey” he answered.

“ where the heck did you go , you just left me here” you said semi jokingly butt hurt.

“ oh I’m by the C building, I had to meet up with someone. come over” he said. ‘C building ?’ You thought . That’s where the wood winds stay . What is he doing over there?

“ uhm okay? “ you responded before hanging up. It took you a minute before you got over ther, wondering who the hell he wanted you to meet. When you walked up though your heart sank.

Crystal, the most wanted girl in your band . She was a flute player, long perfectly soft wavy golden brown hair, teeth that sparkles in the light everytime she smiled, blue eyes that you could notice a mile away. And a flirtatious laugh. Don’t forget her perfect figure. You could see that Tom was blushing while talking to her and she kept playing with her hair.

‘ no no no’ you thought . This literally cannot be happening .

“ hey Tom “ you said while walking up to him. “ you ready to go put our stuff up? “ you asked trying your hardest to take the attention off of Crystal.

“ yeah just a sec, uh Y/n you remember Crystal?” He asked turning the attention right back to her.

“ hey y/n, I love your t-shirt!” She said overly nice. You knew it was fake without a doubt.

“ thanks “ you said with a fake smile. “ you play the flute right? “ you asked.

“ yup that’s me” she said smiling real big before flipping her hair . You looked at Tom who was looking at her in awe. He was mesmerized by her and it was honestly breaking your heart.

“ well I can see you guys are busy so I guess I’ll be on my way then” you said looking directly at Tom. He barely even acknowledged what you had said, just a quick yeah before starting a conversation with Crystal. You walked back to building B with your head down. Did you lose your opportunity to be with the person you truly loved? Has he found someone ? Tom had a handful of flings but he never looked at any of them the way he did Crystal.

It had been lunch time before you had heard from Tom again. The first day everyone really just spent the day roaming the area and having fun. You stood in line by yourself looking around At all the familiar and unfamiliar faces. This facility held all the surrounding college bands for their first two week practices so there were at least 3 different schools there.

“ thanks” you mumbled as you grabbed the tray from the lunch lady before finding an empty seat next to a couple of other kids. You were just so upset. How could he just drop you like that? You both always did everything together during band camp but because of this bimbo Crystal it was like you never existed.

You were picking around with your food when someone tapped your shoulder. It was Tom, thankfully.

“ y/n where were you ? We looked for you”

‘We?’ You thought . Sure enough walks up Crystal and another girl from the flute section and two guys from the drumline.

“ you were busy” you said glancing your eyes towards Crystal and her group before back at Tom.

“ no come sit with us “ he insisted. You hesitated for a second. You really didn’t want to sit and watch him and Crystal flirt but you wanted to be with Tom.

“ okay” you said grabbing your phone and tray before getting up and following them outside to a round table .

You sat directly across Tom, both flute girls sitting on the other side of him and you in between the drummers. They all conversated between themselves , laughter filling throughout the group. Crystal was mainly the center of attention the whole time, but you in the other hand just sat , listening. No one really even acknowledged that you were there.

Not even Tom. You started to feel sick to your stomach. This was not your crowd at all. You didn’t fit in. And you knew Crystal was only really interested in Tom because he had been working out and his body was maturing. She didn’t know him like you did though and that’s what upset you the most.

By the time the day was over with , you were in your bunk in tears. At this point it felt it like you had no one to spend band camp with . You had lost your best friend. He’s had girlfriends before but he never left you out like this before. You were almost asleep when you felt your phone vibrate under your pillow. It was Tom.

T: wyd?

Y: sleepin 😴 y?

T: well wake up and come outside😬

You could feel your heartbeat speeding up. Finally . You quickly put your t shirt on over your tank top and slipped on your tennis shoes before sneaking out before anyone could catch you.

“ boo!” Tom yelled while grabbing your arms.

“ damn you! “ you jumped , turning around to look at him. God he was just so beautiful.

“ I’ve missed you today why were you being so distant “ he asked while hugging you. You wanted to tell him but you didn’t want to sound like a possessive friend.

“ no reason I just wasnt really feeling all that good” you said pulling away from the hug. “ nerves kicking in I guess” you said shrugging it off.

“ oh. Welcome with me” he said grabbing your hand. “ I got a cool Hang out spot” he beamed while walking towards the field . Finally , you get to have Tom all to yourself. Maybe this would be the perfect time to really tell him how you fe-

‘What the fuck. ‘ you thought as you saw Crystal and her Group of friends sitting by the pond.

“ really Tom” you blurted out, unintentionally you pulled your hand away from him and start walking, causing him to turn around in confusion.

“ what? What’s wrong?” He asked, putting his hand on your arm. You sighed heavily . It’s too late now just go ahead and say it.

“I don’t even know these people” you said throwing your hand up towards the group .

“ I know that’s the whole point of bringing you here so you could get to know them” he said excitedly, as if he had some great big plan. You scoffed crossing your arms looking away from him. “ look Crystal and I started talking at the end of the school year last year and we hung out a few times over the summer . I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t know if anything was going to come out of it but then these last couple of weeks things started escalating and .. well I really really like her and you won’t even give her a chance” he said pulling you closer towards him. You could feel the lump forming in the back of your throat. This was all wrong. This wasn’t how the weekend was suppose to go.

“Hey..” he said, lifting your chin up as a tear fell down your cheek. “ why are you crying y/n ? What’s wrong?” He asked sincerely worried.

“ because I can’t do this” you cried out, your voice trembling.

“ what? Do what? What are you talking about y/n?” He said stepping back from you, confusion written over his face.

“ I love you “ you cried out , your voice cracking while more tears started pouring down your face.

“ y/n I love you too I - I don’t understand what’s wrong” he said , panicking.

“ no Tom I love you” you explained, throwing your hands down . He stopped and stared at you with his eyes wide, finally realizing what you were insinuating. “ I’ve been in love with you for years now but I didn’t want to ruin our friendship” you said softly while losing your head. “ I was going to tell you but then you showed up with perfect Crystal and it was like you had no time for me . “ you said looking back up at him, wiping some of your tears away. “ but it’s clear you don’t feel the same way about me “ you said shaking your head.

“Y/n..” he said softly reaching out for your hand but you quickly snatched it away.

“ and I’m sorry but I’m not going to sit here and just be a third wheel to your new relationship. It’s clear you don’t need me anymore” you said looking back at him. “ you’ve got your other friends now”. You stated before turning around walking away. You heard him call your name a few times but you kept walking. You couldn’t bare it anymore.

*To be continued *

#tom holland smut #tom holland fanfiction #tom holland #Tom Holland fan fiction smut #smut

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